As early spring unfolds, Shanghai's Fudan University comes alive with blooming magnolia flowers, symbolizing the diversity and vitality of its international community. Faculty and students from around the world, like these magnolias, have flourished in Fudan's dynamic and inclusive environment, embracing a spectrum of ideals. Here are the keywords that define their experiences at Fudan.

Keyword 1: Allow

"Allow" captures the experience of Audrey Jennifer Stucke, a German undergraduate in the School of Computer Science. Drawn to Fudan for its academic prestige and dynamic international atmosphere, Stucke finds that "Fudan allows you to make a variety of choices". Her passion for computing inspired her to join the "Tengfei Innovation Program", where she researched community-based testing models in large language model environments. Last year, she was selected to take part in an experimental class for elite computer science talent.

Through a diverse array of elective courses covering large language models, algorithms, CPUs, and AI frameworks, Stucke has gained a solid foundation in computer science. Fudan has not only enhanced her learning abilities, but also broadened her choices.

Her academic journey has sparked in her an interest in neuroscience, prompting her to pursue related courses as she prepares for her graduate studies.

Natalia Sannikova, a Russian master's student in Global Public Policy, echoes this sentiment. Her studies at Fudan have expanded her horizons, giving her the chance to participate in global governance seminars and cultural exchanges.

In October 2023, Sannikova attended a seminar on global governance in South Korea, exploring the "Prospects for Development, Exchange, and Cooperation in Northeast Asia under New Regional Circumstances".

"There are countless academic lectures, research projects, and student activities to engage in, with new events every day," she says, emphasizing how Fudan fosters students' personal grow.

Sannikova appreciates the myriad opportunities Fudan offers, enabling her to plan for a PhD as she concludes her master's journey.

Keyword 2: Leading

For Nashat Abumaria, a principal investigator from Jordan at Fudan's Institutes of Brain Science, "leading" defines the university.

His Laboratory for Emotion and Cognition is the first in the world to establish a new model of mammalian “give-up" behavior. His lab achieved this milestone and produced initial data within just six months after its establishment.

In 2023, collaborating with Gu Yu's team, which specializes in neuroscience research and has made significant breakthroughs in ocular dominance plasticity and its regulatory mechanisms, his groundbreaking study on neural decision-making mechanisms was published in the journal Neuron.

This seven-year study has earned Abumaria the reputation of a neuroscientist who never gives up. In 2024, he was awarded The Research Fund for International Senior Scientists by the National Natural Science Foundation of China, which is the most prestigious research grant available to foreign experts and scholars through this foundation.

Benoît Vermander, a French professor in the School of Philosophy, now marks his 16th year at the university. He appreciates Fudan's rich philosophical research focuses and comprehensive academic system, which provide fertile ground for dialogue and innovation.

As director of the Xu-Ricci Dialogue Institute, Vermander organizes annual international exchange seminars at Fudan. "I hope to promote broader philosophical thought through intelligence exchange," he says.

Vermander is also an influential painter and calligrapher and held an art exhibition last April. "Exhibiting is a way of expressing oneself, just like research," he says, highlighting the interplay between reason and emotion that inspires philosophical reflection.

During the 50th anniversary of China-France diplomatic relations, Vermander was named one of the 50 most influential figures in China-France relations over the past 50 years.

Keyword 3: Possibilities

"Possibilities" is a word frequently used by Mikhail Korobkov, a Russian professor at the School of Mathematical Sciences, when discussing Fudan. He notes that Fudan offers excellent infrastructure, high-caliber students, and broad opportunities for international collaboration in mathematics and high-level research.

Since joining Fudan full-time in 2017, Korobkov has published 55 papers in various international journals, including the prestigious Annals of Mathematics. His work provides theoretical support for technological advancements in fields such as shipbuilding, submarines, and aviation. He received the Shanghai Magnolia Silver Award in 2024.

Marie Harder, a professor in the Department of Environmental Science and Engineering from the UK, also embodies the spirit of possibility. Her team's research on waste classification and the management of carbon emissions has had a significant influence on Shanghai's environmental policies. In recognition of her contributions, Harder was honored with the China Government Friendship Award, the highest honor granted to foreign experts by the Chinese government.

As magnolias bloom, so does the potential for growth and discovery at Fudan. To date, nearly 40 foreign experts and alumni from Fudan have been honored with the Shanghai Magnolia Silver or Gold Awards.

Fudan University remains a beacon of opportunity, innovation, and excellence, attracting international talent and fostering a community where diverse perspectives and groundbreaking research flourish.

Source: Official WeChat account of International Students Office of Fudan University at "fudaniso"