From January 22 to February 1, 2024, Zhang Zheng, Vice Dean of the Business School & Deputy Director of the Professional Degree Education Center (PDEC), along with Meng Chenli, Director of the comprehensive office of PDEC, led a team of students on an overseas study tour to Curtin University in Australia. This study tour was themed Investment, Innovation, Entrepreneurship and was attended by students enrolled in 2022 and 2023. The tour was a cooperation program between USST and Curtin University, which was initiated after Sheng Chun, deputy secretary of the Party Committee and vice president of USST, and Zhao Laijun, dean of USSTBS, visited Curtin University and signed a memorandum of understanding on November 17, 2023.
About Curtin University
Curtin University, founded in 1967, is located in Perth, the Capital of Western Australia and the fourth largest city in Australia. Curtin University is a member of the Australian Technology Network of Universities (ATN) and is known as the MIT of Australia. Curtin is Australia's leading university for science and technology, and has been recognized by the Australian Council for Higher Education Accreditation as one of the country's top universities. The University is renowned worldwide for its vibrant and dynamic learning environment.
In recent years, Curtin University has been increasing its global reputation in international university rankings. It is ranked 183rd in the 2023 QS World University Rankings. Its Business School is the largest and most comprehensive business school in Western Australia, with the world's authoritative accreditation (AACSB, EQUIS, EFMD), and is ranked among the top 1% of business schools globally.
Curtin University
The PDEC delegation began their study tour on January 22 at the Bentley Campus of Curtin University. The Deputy Vice-Chancellor Global of Curtin University, Zhang Xiaotian, delivered a welcome speech while International Project Coordinator Beth Jones, and faculty member John Tu, warmly received the delegation and provided an introduction to the courses. During their visit, the delegation explored Curtin's campus, Matagarup Bridge, Kings Park, and Cottesloe Beach.
Zhang Xiaotian delivered a welcome speech
Group Photo
Investment, Innovation, Entrepreneurship from a global perspective
The courses taught in English cover 7 topics, involving idea pursuit and opportunity identification, innovation and commercialization, financial sources and channels for startups, entrepreneurship and entrepreneurial mindset, legal regulation and challenges, as well as sustainable business models, lean startups, entrepreneurial mindset and design thinking. Based on the global perspective, the program presents the core elements of investment, innovation, entrepreneurship to students, and enhances their understanding through case studies and discussions: for example, they discussed the nature of opportunities and the importance of their identification in entrepreneurship; the sources of opportunities are analyzed from multiple dimensions, including personal experience, social networks, market trends, etc. Professor John Tu introduced the difference between business angel investors and venture capitalists; in the process of entrepreneurship, it is necessary to constantly reflect, review the interest and motivation of entrepreneurship, and clarify the goals and motivation of entrepreneurship; we should pay special attention to the product lifecycle and intellectual property gains, registered IP, product iteration, patent registration, etc; Lean Startup is to provide more services with fewer resources; and with an example of the 4D model (Discover, Define, Develop, Deliver) of the British Design Council Double Diamond, it indicates that enterprises can design and develop hardware and software products, design business models and services, formulate new business strategies, and design organizational structure and working methods.
Through diversified keynote speeches, leading scholars and in-depth classroom interactions, this series of courses enabled students to learn a lot of business knowledge, improve their problem-solving ability, deeply appreciate the charm of investment and innovation and entrepreneurship and broaden their global vision.
The Classroom
Experience Sharing of Entrepreneurs' Stories
A variety of practical activities such as company visits and entrepreneurial sharing were arranged for our students so that they could further understand the operations and management of real enterprises and entrepreneurial experience. Rohan Wallace, entrepreneur, Kim Cheeseman, director of honey processing company A Buzz from the Bees, Michael Mccleavy, CEO of game sales company Built by Bit, and Ethan, a successful young entrepreneur in the field of architectural 3D visualization and modeling, came to share their experience. The PDEC delegation also visited Gage Roads, the largest beer company in Australia, where staffers introduced the beer production process, equipment functions, as well as the company's founder John Hodemaker and their entrepreneurial story. In addition, students also visited the Curtin Venture Studio, Curtin University & Bentley Technology Park, and they had in-depth exchanges with the founders and executives of companies housed in the Park.
The Sharing Session
The Venture Technology Park
A New Journey, Another Departure
The nearly two-week overseas study tour soon came to an end, and the completion ceremony kicked off with a speech by Curtin University Deputy Vice-Chancellor Global Zhang Xiaotian. Following this, staff and student representatives gave speeches. Beth, the International Project Coordinator, announced the winners of the photography competition, and Zhang Xiaotian presented each student with a certificate of completion and then took a group photo.
During their time abroad, the students experienced the international academic environment. Through the featured innovation study, they could put what they have learned into practice via case studies and teamwork. This process not only deepened the understanding of business innovation but also enhanced teamwork skills. At the same time, the multiculturalism of Australia also broadened the horizons of the students and exposed them to a strong academic atmosphere. This is not just an academic trip, but also a cross-cultural exchange, which will be a valuable experience for the student's future career development, and will also help the School open a new chapter of internationalization.
Group Photo
Translated by Jin Liang
Reviewed by Liu Weiwei
