Fudan University Leads National Effort to Engage Students in Governance Analysis

Fudan University’s School of International Relations and Public Affairs recently concluded the second edition of its flagship student competition focused on analyzing real-world governance cases drawn from China’s modernization drive. The event brought together nearly 200 participants and observers, including dozens of international students, underscoring the university’s role in fostering practical skills and cross-cultural dialogue around public administration and policy challenges.

The competition, formally known as the “China’s Governance” National College Students Governance Case Analysis Competition, wrapped up its finals on April 25, 2026, in Jingmen, Hubei Province. Eighty teams from 33 universities advanced to the final round after an initial call that attracted submissions from across the country and beyond. Organizers designed the program to encourage students to examine concrete examples of urban development, digital governance, ecological protection, and rural revitalization, then translate those observations into actionable policy insights.

Competition Structure and Participation Highlights

Launched in November 2025, the event featured two parallel tracks: one for domestic Chinese students and another specifically for international students studying in China. Teams could include up to five members and were required to submit detailed case analysis reports supported by field research or documented evidence. Mentors from academia and industry provided guidance throughout the process.

Finalists presented their work in person, followed by Q&A sessions with expert judges. The international track winner came from Sichuan University; the team examined the ecological revitalization model of Yuncun village in Zhejiang Province. Members hailed from Pakistan, Bangladesh, and China, illustrating the competition’s emphasis on diverse perspectives. Observers noted how the winning project highlighted replicable strategies for balancing economic growth with environmental stewardship.

Participation extended well beyond presentations. Students toured local sites that exemplify effective governance in action, including the Zhanghe Reservoir water management system and a major manufacturing facility. These visits allowed participants to witness firsthand how local authorities implement national policies on sustainability and industrial development.

International Dimension Strengthens Global Understanding

Thirty-eight international students from 24 countries joined the event, representing nations such as Germany, Russia, Japan, Uzbekistan, and Belgium. Their involvement highlighted Fudan’s broader commitment to internationalization in higher education. Exchange students and degree-seeking internationals alike contributed analyses that compared Chinese governance practices with approaches in their home countries.

One Uzbek undergraduate at Fudan remarked on the value of connecting classroom theory to tangible local solutions. A Japanese participant studying cultural heritage and museology used the competition to compare urban governance models in Shanghai and Tokyo, identifying strengths in digital infrastructure and institutional frameworks. Icelandic observers drew parallels between China’s “lucid waters and lush mountains” policy and their own nation’s sustainability priorities.

Organizers noted that such exchanges help international students move beyond abstract impressions of China’s development model toward grounded, evidence-based understanding. The competition also created opportunities for students to build professional networks that may influence future academic or policy careers.

Photo by Quan Jing on Unsplash

Educational Value for Public Administration Programs

Events like this address a recurring challenge in Chinese higher education: bridging theoretical coursework with practical problem-solving. Public administration and international relations programs increasingly incorporate case-based learning, yet opportunities for students to conduct original field analysis remain limited. Fudan’s initiative fills that gap by requiring teams to identify real governance issues, gather supporting data, and propose solutions with potential for wider application.

Faculty involved emphasized the competition’s alignment with national priorities outlined in China’s modernization agenda. Topics ranged from smart-city initiatives and rural vitalization to emergency management systems and cultural heritage protection. Students were encouraged to adopt interdisciplinary lenses, drawing on economics, environmental science, technology policy, and sociology.

Winning entries receive support for conversion into academic papers or policy briefs, with top teams potentially joining ongoing Fudan research projects. Certificates and recognition letters for graduate admissions further incentivize participation, helping students strengthen their academic portfolios.

Broader Implications for Chinese Higher Education

The competition reflects a growing trend among leading Chinese universities to position themselves as hubs for governance research and talent development. As China continues to refine its governance capacity, institutions like Fudan play a central role in training the next generation of analysts and administrators equipped to address complex societal challenges.

By hosting international participants, the event also advances China’s soft-power objectives in education. Foreign students who engage directly with local governance cases often become informal ambassadors, sharing nuanced perspectives upon returning home or pursuing careers that involve China-related work.

University administrators elsewhere in China may look to replicate elements of the model, particularly the combination of rigorous case analysis, field visits, and cross-border collaboration. Such programs can enhance graduate employability in government, think tanks, international organizations, and the private sector.

Student Perspectives and Lasting Impact

Participants consistently highlighted the competition’s emphasis on actionable outcomes rather than purely theoretical exercises. One exchange student noted the rarity of structured opportunities to practice policy formulation based on community-level challenges. Another praised the study-tour component for revealing the creativity required of local governments in promoting economic development.

International students described personal growth in cultural integration. A Hungarian participant of mixed heritage used the event to deepen connections between Chinese ethnic cultural resources and European markets through an AI platform concept. Japanese and Icelandic students similarly found the experience reinforced their commitment to careers that bridge China and their home regions.

These personal narratives underscore the competition’s dual role: sharpening analytical skills while fostering the interpersonal and cross-cultural competencies increasingly valued in global public affairs.

Photo by Nethmi Muthugala on Unsplash

Future Outlook and Potential Expansions

With the second edition successfully completed, organizers are expected to build on the momentum for future iterations. Potential enhancements include expanded regional preliminaries, greater integration with government agencies for real policy input, and additional tracks focused on emerging areas such as artificial-intelligence governance or carbon-neutrality strategies.

Fudan’s leadership in this space positions the university as a key contributor to national efforts to modernize governance education. As more institutions adopt similar experiential formats, China’s higher-education sector could see measurable gains in student readiness for public-service careers and international engagement.

The competition also offers a template for other countries seeking to involve students in analyzing their own governance systems, potentially creating avenues for bilateral or multilateral academic exchanges centered on comparative public administration.

Conclusion

Fudan University’s organization of the second national governance case analysis competition demonstrates how leading Chinese institutions are evolving their educational offerings to meet both domestic priorities and global expectations. By combining rigorous analysis, field immersion, and international participation, the event equips students with practical skills while advancing mutual understanding of China’s development trajectory. As the competition matures, its influence on higher-education practices and governance discourse is likely to grow.