Introduction to the Shanghai Summer School (BRICS Program)
The Shanghai Summer School (BRICS Program) is a flagship international project for people-to-people and cultural exchanges, organized by Fudan University under the framework of BRICS cooperation. Since its inception in 2014, the program has been successfully held for 12 sessions. It has cultivated 424 young scholars from the original BRICS nations—Brazil, Russia, India, and South Africa—as well as from new member states including Egypt, Iran, and Saudi Arabia, gradually establishing a BRICS youth leadership network with extensive global influence.
Conducted entirely in English, the program features core curriculum modules centered on “Global Governance and BRICS Cooperation” and “China’s Politics and Diplomacy,” complemented by the “Joyful Shanghai” cultural experience activities. The 36-credit-hour curriculum includes expert lectures, thematic seminars, and diplomatic simulations, providing in-depth discussions on BRICS cooperation mechanisms and the reform of global governance. The faculty team comprises distinguished scholars from renowned universities and think tanks both in China and abroad, ensuring that the academic content remains at the frontier of knowledge with a broad international perspective. Upon completion of the coursework and assessments, participants are awarded 4 credits recognized by Fudan University.
The program emphasizes the integration of theory and practice. Beyond classroom learning, it organizes field visits to the Shanghai Headquarters of the New Development Bank (NDB) and cultural surveys of Shanghai and its surrounding cities. Activities such as the Pujiang River Night Cruise and traditional cultural workshops are designed to deepen cross-cultural communication.
As a vital vehicle for BRICS people-to-people exchanges, the program remains committed to consolidating the social foundation of “amity between the people.” By building a platform for youth exchange, it aims to help the new generation of BRICS nations deepen their understanding of China’s development path, cultivate young forces for cross-border cooperation, and inject enduring vitality into the construction of a closer BRICS partnership.