On the morning of September 5th, SBC held 2025 Top-Table final competition of T-Week and scholarship awards ceremony in TB 201, the lecture hall in the teaching building. LI Yan, Secretary of the Party Committee of SBC, Adrian Chong, Head of School of Engineering and Computing, Jeffrey Wang, Head of School of Business and Management, Sam Fremantle, Jon Cooper, Alan Flurry, EAP lecturers of School of Language, Education, and Cultures, representatives of seniors and the participants of the T-Week project attended the activity.
2025 T-Week project involved two weeks of academic and cultural exchange activities, focusing on the theme “How can innovation be used to improve Shanghai”. Six faculty members delivered substantial and engaging course content, covering areas such as intensive English language training, academic skills workshops, engineering design practice, principles of management analysis, peer mentoring and tutorials, as well as cultural exchange experiences.
At the opening ceremony, Professor ZHANG Zheng, Vice Dean of SBC, Acting Executive Dean of SBC extended a warm welcome and congratulations to the students on behalf of the College. He engaged in a cordial exchange with the attendees, inquiring about their hometowns and initial impressions of both the College and Shanghai. He provided a brief introduction to SBC’s history and developmental achievements, and put forward three expectations for the students: firstly, to carry forward the USST’s revolutionary past and its tradition of international education, set ambitious goals, and strive to become a new generation capable of shouldering the mission of national rejuvenation.
Secondly, to make full use of the high-quality international educational resources offered by the University and the College, broaden their global perspectives, and develop into well-rounded talents equipped with “Responsible Leadership, Enterprise and Innovation, Cultural Empathy.”
Thirdly, to cultivate self-discipline and independence, plan their academic and personal lives in a structured and strategic manner, and strive to become proactive and pioneering SBCers who embrace innovation and demonstrate relentless drive.
ZHANG Zheng introduced USST and SBC and encouraged the students
In accordance with the T-Week's academic requirements, each participant was expected to independently complete a research project by applying the knowledge and skills acquired during the academic curriculum, and to present their findings in the form of an oral presentation. The lecturers conducted a comprehensive assessment of each participant’s learning outcomes based on both their project presentation and defence. Throughout this process, participants engaged in extensive literature review and fieldwork, continually refined their presentation techniques between sessions, and polished their arguments. Senior students also actively contributed by sharing their experience and providing guidance during supplementary tutoring sessions.
T-Week's academic curriculum
During the preliminary round, the candidates demonstrated distinctive strengths and qualities in their presentations. Following a highly competitive selection process, ten participants stood out from their peers by virtue of their solid command of the language, clear analytical thinking, and innovative solutions, thereby advancing to the final stage to compete for the 2025 Top-Table Excellence Scholarship.
In the final round, each contestant delivered an academic presentation in English, addressing the theme from diverse perspectives while responding to questions posed by the judging panel. They provided in-depth analyses on a range of issues including education, energy, cultures, transportation, and architecture. Their fluent expression, creative yet practical solutions, as well as confident and composed stage presence, left a strong impression on the judges.
Contestant performance in the final
The judges attentively listened to each contestant’s presentation and conducted a comprehensive evaluation based on criteria such as content quality, language proficiency, on-the-spot responsiveness, and overall impression. Each candidate was also questioned individually by the panel and responded with composure and clarity, demonstrating strong improvisational skills and a solid command of English. In the end, LI Yan, Secretary of the Party Committee of SBC, presented the 2025 Top-Table Excellence Scholarship to JIANG Silin and WANG Yilin, both in Business Management, and congratulated them on their achievements. Adrian Chong, Head of School of Engineering and Computing, presented the Awards to The Most Runner-Up Speakers to QIAN Mingkai and WANG Luwei in Electrical and Electronic Engineering. Jeffrey Wang, Head of School of Business and Management, presented the Awards to The Best Team Players to RENG Tienan and WANG Yilin in Business Management. Sam Fremantle, Jon Cooper and Alan Flurry, EAP lecturers of School of Language, Education, and Cultures, also awarded the T1 Scholarship to all the participants.
Awards to The Best Team Players, The Most Runner-Up Speakers and Excellence Scholarship Winners
Awards to All T1 Scholarship Winners
Following the awards ceremony, during the subsequent networking session, LI Yan spoke highly of the two-week 2025 T-Week project. She expressed sincere gratitude to the academic team and relevant internal departments for their dedicated efforts, and praised the outstanding performance of all participants. She emphasised that through this programme, students have not only broadened their global perspectives and enhanced their professional competencies, but also strengthened their teamwork and communication skills in practice, demonstrating remarkable academic potential and innovative thinking. The successful delivery of the T-Week, she noted, fully reflects the College’s ongoing commitment to nurturing innovative and interdisciplinary talent, as well as advancing international education. She expressed confidence that this experience will serve as a new starting point for the students, enabling them to extend the academic mindset, innovative awareness, and cross-cultural communication skills gained here into their future studies and life journeys. She encouraged them to continue surpassing themselves, broadening their horizons, and courageously embracing the responsibilities entrusted to them by the times.
Adrian Chong remarked that the T-Week provided participants with a valuable opportunity to engage in independent research and academic practice, serving as a key to fostering sound academic habits and unlocking the door to scholarly inquiry. The final presentations not only demonstrated the students’ eloquence and ability to think on their feet, but also reflected their comprehensive skills in literature review, critical thinking, and the application of course knowledge to practical outcomes.
Jeffrey Wang further highlighted that the participants exhibited a strong spirit of inquiry and keen ability to connect academic theory to real-world problems. He noted that they were able to identify meaningful issues from daily life and social phenomena, and skilfully apply theoretical tools acquired during the project to analyse and interpret them. This ability lays a solid foundation for their future academic pursuits and professional development.
Through systematic learning and practical engagement, the participants have made remarkable progress in areas such as language proficiency, academic thinking and interdisciplinary collaboration. They have not only acquired fundamental research methodologies but have also developed logical reasoning and problem-solving abilities.
JIANG Silin, one of the winners of the 2025 Top-Table Excellence Scholarship, shared: “As a freshman, I am deeply honoured to receive this scholarship. I would like to express my sincere gratitude to all the lecturers who provided instruction and guidance over the past two weeks, as well as to the senior students and peers with whom I studied and exchanged ideas. I will continue to dedicate myself diligently to both academic and personal growth, striving to be worthy of this honour.”
The other Excellence Scholarship winner, WANG Yilin, added: “This T-Week has been immensely meaningful for my personal development—it was a valuable opportunity to challenge and surpass myself. Receiving this scholarship would not have been possible without the support of the lecturers, the companionship of my fellow students, and the encouragement of our seniors. I will take this as motivation to keep improving and moving forward steadfastly. I also hope that all of us can hold onto our passions and, starting from the Sino-British College, stride forward toward even brighter futures.”
ZHU Junning in Mechanical Engineering, one of the winners of the 2024 Top-Table Excellence Scholarship and current senior student representative, reflected with emotion: “I see so much of my past self in the 2025 students—filled with curiosity and nervousness, creating unforgettable memories during the T-Week. It has been a privilege to return this year in the role of a student mentor, supporting and growing together with the new cohort. I hope all the new students will courageously explore new horizons and embrace challenges at the College, not only gaining knowledge but also discovering their boundless potential.”
The successful delivery of 2025 T-Week project serves as a clear demonstration of the Sino-British College’s commitment to nurturing talents with a global perspective, innovative spirit, and cross-cultural communication skills. Moving forward, SBC will continue to develop high-calibre, interdisciplinary international platforms, integrating quality educational resources from USST and UK partner universities, to empower our students to excel on the global stage.
Group photo
