On September 2, over 30 students from the University of New South Wales, Australia, visited leading digital economy enterprises in Changning District for an immersive experience. The group engaged in interactive discussions on topics such as artificial intelligence applications and the digital transformation of domestic brands, building a bridge for industrial exchange between China and Australia through cross-border dialogue.

The first stop on their trip was the office of Hi- Dolphin Technology Co Ltd, a company located in Changning, where students experienced firsthand the fully automated operation of the seventh-generation "COFE+ Intelligent Coffee Robot." When they saw the school emblem 3D-printed onto the creamy milk foam, exclamations of admiration rippled through the room. "Who are the main target customer groups for the coffee robot?" "What are the future functional iterations?" The students posed questions and engaged in a lively discussion with the company, exploring topics such as technology implementation, business operations, and market prospects.

At the event, Austin, a senior Chinese-American student, raised a question: How can one make a profit after purchasing a coffee robot? "After communicating with the company, I realized that it involves not only equipment operation but also a whole set of business operation systems, including promotion, marketing, and resource integration," Austin said.He was impressed by the creativity of Chinese companies in integrating technology into daily consumption scenarios. "These kinds of intelligent service devices have broad application prospects in shopping malls, hospitals, universities, and other scenarios, and they have opened up new ideas for my entrepreneurial plans."

Leaving behind the hardcore science and technology innovation scenes, the students moved to the Shanghai Li-Ning Center to unlock the digital transformation secrets of this well known sports brand.Led by the venue staff, they experienced firsthand the brand's achievements in product innovation and digital marketing, and directly witnessed the development of Chinese national brands from their local roots to their steady global expansion.

Oli Rodikova, a sophomore from Russia, said she had previously noticed the popularity of Chinese brands among international consumers and had always been curious about the underlying development logic. "During this visit, I noticed that the Li-Ning brand places great importance on collecting user feedback and incorporates customer needs into subsequent product optimizations, which inspired me greatly." She admitted that Shanghai has a strong international atmosphere and robust industrial development, and she hopes to come to China to seek development opportunities in the future.

At the end of the trip, the study group visited Chagee, a leading brand of new Chinese-style tea drinks, and had in-depth discussions with the company on topics such as empowering the value of the national trend economy, digital operation, and brand going global. The students expressed their admiration for the speed of globalization and the level of refined operation of new Chinese consumer brands.

As the organizer of the study tour, Bian Jun, President of the Sydney Shanghai Chamber of Commerce in Australia, introduced that the Australian University Students' Study Tour of Shanghai Digital Economy Enterprises, launched in 2019, has conducted extensive exchanges with more than 300 locations in Shanghai, including enterprises, industrial parks, and universities. This study tour, held from August 30th to September 12th, covered several core areas of Shanghai and, through diverse formats such as company visits, thematic exchanges, and cultural experiences, helped overseas students gain a deep understanding of the cutting-edge practices and development achievements of China's digital economy.

“This year’s study tour has become significantly more international, with non-Chinese students accounting for over 50 percent of the total, and students from countries including Russia, India, and Malaysia, demonstrating a marked increase in diversity,” Bian noted.He added that Changning District, as a crucial gateway connecting Shanghai with the rest of the world, is home to a large number of high-quality science and technology innovation and digital economy enterprises, making it a key area for the study tour. “The event has received support from the Changning Overseas Friendship Association, the District Overseas Chinese Affairs Office, and the District Federation of Returned Overseas Chinese, among others. Many students who participated in previous years have returned to the study tour as volunteers, while others have chosen to work or start businesses in China, continuing to engage in people-to-people exchanges between China and Australia. Our initial goal was to allow overseas students to personally experience China’s development achievements and see the real China firsthand.”