Haizhu in Guangzhou, Jinhua in Zhejiang, Yibin in Sichuan, Heshun in Shanxi, Wenjiang in Chengdu, Sanmen in Zhejiang, and Yizhuang in Beijing ... These were the destinations on the 2025 summer fieldwork map for students from Tsinghua University's Zhishan College. Guided by the college's distinctive course, "Global Deep Dive," students embarked on intensive research and reflection, focusing on themes like "Digital China," "Rural Revitalization," "Community-Level Governance," "Ecological Civilization," and "Cultural Exchange."
Integrating Knowledge and Action through Progressive Learning
To guide students in deeply engaging with global "field sites" within the context of a "digital-intelligent society," and to experience the complete process from topic selection to report writing—mastering core research methods like in-depth interviews, participant observation, and surveys—Zhishan College spent the entire 2024-2025 academic year developing the course. Over twenty faculty members from seven partner departments contributed to its design, creating a clear, "grounded" academic practice pathway for students.
"Global Deep Dive 1" introduces first-year students to domestic fieldwork, observing new changes in Chinese society in the digital-intelligent era. "Global Deep Dive 2" for sophomores strengthens theoretical perspectives and scientific analysis. "Global Deep Dive 3" expands to overseas sites for cross-cultural comparison, exploring pathways for a shared human future. Through hands-on, "learning-by-doing" mentorship and six weeks of intensive fieldwork, students systematically reviewed literature, designed research plans, conducted interviews and observations, analyzed data, wrote reports, and worked on translating their findings into impact.
Fieldwork as a Window to Deeper Understanding
Haizhu team interviewing enterprises on using digital tech to enhance quality of life
"In our research, we found AI is no longer just a lab achievement but is deeply integrated into education, industry, and daily life, becoming a new productive force. The pace of China's development is incredibly fast, which was eye-opening. It made me realize that in this era, we must not only learn technology but also think about how to align it with societal needs to truly unlock its value." — Allison Calista Halim (Indonesia), 42 class of Zhishan College. In Haizhu, students visited government data centers and high-tech firms, observing how data is reshaping urban governance and industrial ecosystems, gaining a tangible sense of the outcomes of "Digital China" and the logic behind tech empowerment.
Jinhua team at the command center of the Yixin Europe Railway, linking Yiwu to the world
"Fieldwork is like unwrapping a beautifully packaged gift. The silk brocade you imagine might turn out to be industrially produced faux suede under your fingertips. It's precisely this gap between expectation and reality that makes us more aware: true culture often lies in the corners untouched by spotlights, and the unvarnished traces of life might be the real key to observation." — Qiu Haohan (Jiangxi, China), 42 class of Zhishan College. In Jinhua, students examined the internationalization of "Made in China" from the forefront of global small commodity trade, researched the "short drama overseas" phenomenon in Hengdian's film industry, participated in community governance within a diverse UN community, and witnessed the transformation challenges and innovative breakthroughs of SMEs in global value chains, alongside the deep integration of cultural export and social governance innovation.
Yibin team experiencing the local liquor brewing process firsthand
"Through this fieldwork, I not only honed my interview skills but also gained a deeper understanding of the structures and dynamics of Chinese society. Furthermore, I reached my own understanding about something I've always been curious about—why Chinese people enjoy baijiu. Beyond personal taste, the pride stemming from a profound liquor culture is a key factor." — RYUNOSUKE KODAMA (Japan), 41 class of Zhishan College. In Yibin, using the bamboo and liquor industries as entry points, students explored how ecological resources transform into cultural and developmental drivers, deepening their understanding of green development practices in western China.
Heshun team in their daily end-of-day group discussion and reflection
"Repeated discussions gave me a direct feel for the administrative layers between county, town, and village. The professors' and TAs' sharp insights into governmental power dynamics were astounding, showing me I still have a long way to go in reading between the lines and understanding nuances. I look forward to entering more diverse fields and digging deeper, going further in Heshun." — Zhou Yinuo (Beijing, China), 41 class of Zhishan College. In Heshun, students tracked ecological restoration in North China leopard habitats, visited revolutionary sites, contemplated the contemporary value of spiritual legacy, and perceived the deeper pulse of civilizational evolution.
Wenjiang team shadowing community workers in their daily routines
"With the professor's guidance, the TAs' generous help, and great teamwork, I transformed from a nervous novice afraid to speak into a communicator who could identify residents' core concerns and ask follow-up questions skillfully. This course was more than just practice; it was a life lesson, and it makes me eagerly anticipate the subsequent Global Deep Dive courses!" — Xu Chenyu (Macau, China), 41 class of Zhishan College. In Wenjiang, students engaged with real-world challenges and grassroots wisdom through community "Baba meetings," listened to residents' genuine needs, and grasped the complexity and human touch involved in policy implementation.
Sanmen team in a discussion with local village officials
"As a foreigner, experiencing the real Chinese countryside gave me genuine insight into the essence of the Chinese people—not only are they hardworking, but they share common goals. No matter the problem, they pool their wisdom and efforts, and the government consistently provides full support. This level of cohesion is something I haven't seen anywhere else in the world. I will always remember these takeaways and apply them in my own country." — Mikaela Francisca Rosario Duran (USA&Bolivian), 43 class of Zhishan College. In Sanmen, students visited aquaculture cooperatives and fishery parks, systematically researching local measures and outcomes in industrial revitalization and collective economy innovation, sensing the enhanced agency of fishers and the synergistic effects of tech empowerment in the marine economy transition.
Yizhuang team discussing AI data regulation issues
"This fieldwork was not just an observation of cutting-edge tech applications, but a profound lesson in how technology creates value within real-world constraints. The course significantly broadened my perspective, pushing me to think more systematically about technology implementation. It provided clear, practical inspiration for my future direction in data governance and algorithm ethics." — Zang Minghao (Xinjiang, China), 43 class of Zhishan College. In Yizhuang, students interviewed AI company executives, explored the institutional and ethical challenges behind tech innovation, and reflected on the tension between innovation and social value.
Through the clash of Chinese and international perspectives, cross-disciplinary collaboration, and real-world immersion, the “Global Deep Dive” course uses the "field" as a vital path to understanding complex societies.
A Small Step, Yet a Major Leap Forward
While the 2025 summer fieldwork has concluded, the academic reflection continues. Students produced over twenty high-quality research reports. Building on this, Zhishan College successfully held the "Pursuing Excellence" Academic Festival, fostering debate and deepening understanding among students and faculty. The Guangzhou team's report received an A-grade rating from the Tsinghua Think Tank Center and will be further submitted for potential impact under the Center's guidance. The college will also select and compile the best reports into a Global Deep Dive Case Collection for publication, to facilitate the translation of these quality outcomes into public policy and social practice.
The inaugural offering of the "Global Deep Dive" course marks a solid step for Zhishan College in integrating academic study with practice, cultivating "thinkers and practitioners rooted in China with a global vision." The fields are boundless, and the discourse resonates. Zhishan College remains committed to exploring further possibilities in educational innovation.
