Sino-US Bridge Program (SUBP)

Our Mission

The Sino-US Bridge Program (SUBP) is dedicated to bridging the knowledge gap between American students and modern China. Our mission is to:

  • Enhance Future Leaders’ Competitiveness Empower students by exposing them to excellence worldwide, regardless of its origin.
  • Ignite Interest and Overcome Barriers Motivate students to transcend language, cost, and political obstacles when considering studying in China.
  • Foster Understanding of a Global Powerhouse Prepare future leaders to comprehend China’s significant role in global prosperity, peace, and technological advancement.
  • Cultivate Global Leaders Nurture youth leaders who can bridge Sino-US relations, foster collaboration, and achieve shared prosperity.

SUBP Members with distinguished members of the U.S. Embassy on 6/13/2024. From left to right: Austin Slaymaker, Special Assistant to the Minister Counselor for Management; Shari Bistransky, Deputy Public Affairs Officer; Claire Liebmann, Political Officer; and Mark Maloney, ECON Officer.

On November 15, 2023, the heads of state of China and the United States agreed to promote and strengthen dialogue and cooperation in various fields between China and the United States, including expanding exchanges in education, international students, youth, and culture.
Jinping Xi & Joe Biden
Presidents of China & USA
“China is very advanced...and is rapidly expanding, so I hope that we can share, learn, and compare technologies with each other.”
Gavin Newsom​
California Governor
“We need to commit to a long-term relationship...get young Americans, students...to come to China to learn the language, history, and culture so 20-30 years from now, university professors, secretary of state and ambassadors have experience in this country which is critical.”
Nicholas Burns US Ambassador to China
Nicholas Burns
U.S. Ambassador
“We live in a complex geopolitical world, the U.S. and China need to communicate with one another…to share viewpoints. Communication is key to increasing understanding, leading to trust building…”
Joe Tsai
Co-founder of Alibaba

Why SUBP?

SUBP strives to empower future American leaders by providing immersive experiences in China and dispelling misconceptions about its higher education and technology sectors.

The Need for SUBP

American students display substantial deficits in understanding modern China, leading to misconceptions and a lack of interest in engaging with the country. This knowledge gap contributes to educational disparities and strained U.S.-China relations.

SUBP’s Unique Approach

  • Targeted: Aligning with Student Motivations
    • Focus on career advancement and personal growth, which are top reasons for studying abroad.
    • Address students’ desire for quality education and safe environments.
  • Immersive: Showcasing China’s Advancements
    • Visits to top universities like Tsinghua and Peking University.
    • Engagements with leading tech companies such as Xiaomi and BYD.
    • Exploration of key cities: Beijing, Shanghai, Shenzhen, and Hangzhou.
    • Meetings with government officials from the U.S. Embassy and China officials, professors, industry leaders and alumnus from elite U.S. universities.
  • Comprehensive: Offering an All-Encompassing Program Design
    • Pre-Trip Preparation
      • Learning about Chinese universities, companies, and cities.
      • Pre-trip assessments and question preparation for each visit.
    • Active Participant Engagement
      • Daily reflections and social media sharing.
      • Weekly recap and presentations to U.S. audiences.
    • Rigorous Assessment
      • Measuring effectiveness in increasing knowledge and shifting perceptions.
      • Data-driven improvements to continuously enhance the program.

China’s Rapid Advancements

In recent years, China has surpassed the United States in several technological fields:

  • Mobile Payments and E-Commerce
  • High-Speed Rail Systems
  • Electric Vehicles and Renewable Energy Technologies

Despite common misconceptions about China’s higher education system being solely rote-based, it is rapidly evolving:

  • Focus on Innovation and Critical Thinking
    • Chinese universities are emphasizing research and innovation.
  • Global Recognition
    • A 20% increase in Chinese universities featured in the QS World University Rankings over the last five years as shown in the chart below.

SUBP’s Impact

Our program effectively addresses the knowledge gap and corrects misconceptions by:

  • Enhancing Knowledge
    • Participants show significant increases in understanding modern China.
  • Shifting Perceptions
    • Improved views on China’s education, technology, and societal advancements.
  • Igniting Interest
    • High likelihood of participants recommending China as a destination for study and work.
    • Increased intent to engage further through study, work, or personal visits.
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

Join Us

By participating in SUBP, students gain invaluable experiences and contribute to fostering mutual understanding and collaboration between the U.S. and China. Together, we can cultivate leaders committed to addressing shared global challenges and achieving shared prosperity and peace.