Sino-US Bridge Program (SUBP) 2024
Diverging from traditional cultural and language-focused student exchange programs, the Sino-US Bridge Program (SUBP) places a spotlight on learning from the advancements in China’s higher education and technology sectors. It is the ONLY Academic & Career immersive student exchange program FULLY funded for 30-day in-China expenses. Students will
- Visit the BEST universities and tech companies to explore NEW academic and career development opportunities;
- Meet experts from the US Embassy, the President of AmCham China, professors, alumni of top US universities, and business executives!
SUBP ushers in a new chapter in Sino-American exchanges, focusing on how the advancements in Chinese higher education and technology offer American students potential educational opportunities and career value. We aim to prepare our future leaders to understand China and nurture our future youth leaders to bridge Sino-US friendship, foster collaboration, and achieve shared prosperity.
Information Seminar on Sunday, April 07, 2024 at 8:30 PM EST. RSVP to attend!
Why SUBP?
SUBP strives to empower future American leaders by bridging divides through immersive experiences in China and by dispelling misconceptions about higher education and technology in China.
SUBP’s missions are:
- Enhance the competitiveness of our future leaders by learning from excellence, regardless of its origin
- Motivate students to overcome barriers like language, cost, and politics when considering studying in China
- Prepare our future leaders to understand China, a global economic and technological powerhouse
- Nurturing future youth leaders to bridge Sino-US friendship, foster collaboration, and achieve shared prosperity
In the recent years, China has surpassed the United States in many technological advancements, such as in mobile payments, e-commerce, high-speed rail, and new electric vehicles.
Despite what most people think about China’s higher education system, China is focusing more on innovation, critical thinking, and research, challenging the stereotype of a solely rote-based education. It is rapidly improving, indicated by the number of Chinese Universities ranking in the QS World University Ranking. Overall, 20% more schools have joined the rankings in the last 5 years, as you can see from the chart below.
| QS World University Ranking Category | Chinese Universities (2018) | Chinese Universities (2023) | US Universities (2018) | US Universities (2023) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Top 100 | 6 | 7 | 33 | 28 |
| Top 200 | 12 | 15 | 57 | 51 |
| Top 500 | 38 | 50 | 131 | 127 |
| Top 1000 | 101 | 123 | 216 | 207 |
About the program
Students accepted into the SUBP program will travel across China in cities such as: Beijing, the capital, Shanghai, the financial center, Hangzhou, the e-commerce capital, and Shenzhen, the Silicon Valley of China to explore 8-10 top universities and technology companies and gain insights into China’s significant advancements and contributions in key fields.
Pre-Trip Preparation
- US and Chinese students will engage in online collaborative learning to prepare for upcoming visits to universities, businesses, and cities
- They will prepare analytical cases on topics such as “Shenzhen’s development history” or “TEMU/Pinduoduos rapid rise in the US market”
- Record students’ perspectives on universities, businesses, and cities before their visits
- SUBP program managers will help students adress challenges related to mobile connection, language, payment, and transportation
During the Trip
Throughout the program, students will engage in a diverse range of activities, such as:
- Discuss with professors and students in Chinese universities
- Gain exposure to industry experts and business executives
- Experience Chinese culture through food, tours, and extracurricular activities
- Implement comprehensive assessments to ensure students receive the most benefits of the program
- Regularly share students’ first-hand experiences and actively engage with students in the US to increase the awareness of the program
The tentative itinerary of the program includes the following cities:
- Peking University
- Tsinghua University
- Baidu
- ByteDance (TikTok)
- Fudan University
- Shanghai Jiao Tong University
- Pinduoduo (PDD)
- High-speed Railway
- Zhejiang University
- Alibaba Headquarters
- First Affiliated Hospital of Zhejiang
- Shenzhen University
- Tencent (WeChat)
- BYD
- China-U.S. Youth Summit
- Xiamen University
After the trip
- Record and analyze changes in students’ perspectives on universities, businesses, and cities before and after their visits
- Conduct a professional seminar with an expert team to develop effective method to address stark imbalance in Sino-US academic exchange
How will you benefit?
- Aligns With Both Countries’ Advocacies
- SUBP aligns with the interests and initiatives of both the US and Chinese governments.
- U.S. Embassy officials will brief participants on U.S.- China relations and policy priorities. A departure press release in which the Chinese Consulate General in New York will be invited is also being planned.
- Career Opportunities
- All of the companies we are planning to visit have US operations. It is worthwhile noting that they are all currently hiring while many US corporations freeze hire or are going through layoffs
- Leadership Development
- Access to top mentors and industry experts for academic and professional growth
- Networking
- Connect with diverse peers, mentors, and professionals in the U.S. and China
- Exposure
- Immersive academic, technological, and cultural experiences in China
- Media exposure through outlets like Xinhua News Agency, CCTV, The Wall Street Journal, Bloomberg, and more
Costs
Expenses Sponsored:
SUBP is the ONLY Academic/Career focused exchange program FULLY funded for 20-30 days in-China expenses.
In-China Expenses: including all activities, meals, and transportation arrangements within China.
SUBP General, Administrative and Marketing Cost are funded by AC Future Education and Youth4AM.
Expenses NOT Covered:
International Flight Tickets: SUBP will facilitate the most favorable group international flight discounts. Participants are responsible to pay for the international air tickets to and back from China.
Program Cost: estimated to be between $1500 and $3000+, including international travel insurance, visa application fee, uniforms, materials, pre-trip training and orientation, in-US activities, etc.
Payment Deadline: Payment must be made based on the date provided in the offer letter upon acceptance. Failure to pay on time will result in loss of a spot in the program.
Scholarships
Youth4AM Scholarship
For students seeking financial assistance, details of their financial needs and any supporting documentation are needed.
Students will be considered for scholarships with the following assessment criteria: the highest scholarship available may cover the entirety of the student’s self-funded portion.
Scholarships will be given after the trip and the amount given to selected students will be based on their contribution to the program, such as Leadership and Social Media during the program.
- Academic Standing: GPA and SAT scores (proof must be submitted to be considered for the scholarship)
- Leadership: Active involvement as club and/or community leaders
- Interest: Demonstrated interest & knowledge in China
- Have a foundational understanding of the Chinese language
- Know of major, technology development (companies & industries), culture (cities)
- Social Media Presence: Ability to promote the program through a positive social media presence
Scholarships will be given after the trip and the amount given to selected students will be based on their contribution to the program, such as Leadership and Social Media during the program.
Work Opportunities
We also encourage students who are NYC residents to apply to SYEP through Youth4AM to work on the Sino-US Bridge Program after the trip. This work will take place during July and August remotely for $16 an hour.
There will also be work opportunities for students following the program, throughout the summer or throughout the year.
Application Details
Criteria to join:
- Citizenship Status: U.S. citizen or green card holder. We welcome applicants of all ethnicities to apply.
- Current college students (Students graduating in years 2024+)
We look for dedicated, ambitious college students, who set high goals and have shown impressive leadership skills, as well as has a curiosity surrounding Chinese culture and their intellectual and technological advancements.
Information Seminar
If you would like to learn more about the program, we are holding an Information Seminar on Sunday, April 7, 2024 at 8:30 PM EST. RSVP to attend!
Students attending the Information Seminar will receive bonus points on their application.
The application timeline is as follows:
APPLY
Rolling until Mid-May
INTERVIEWS
Rolling until Mid-May
APPLICATION DECISIONS
Rolling until Mid-May
FINAL CONFIRMATION
Rolling until Mid-May
DAY OF TRIP DEPARTURE
Between June 6-8
Photos
Videos
Feel free to watch some videos of the universities and cities that we will be visiting!
