The Asian Business and Management Program (ABMP) recently wrapped up a novel new program: Jumpstart Your Future: A Career Bootcamp for Undergrads, uniquely tailored to international students’ needs, specifically undergraduates from Shanghai University, China. As the first in-person residential program that ABMP has offered since fall 2019, its organization and content is timely, given the current youth unemployment challenges in China amidst the post-COVID era. 

The thirteen Shanghai University students visited Toronto in late summer 2023, staying in residence to immerse themselves in this transformative experience. “The core of the program focused on equipping them with the analytical tools and critical insights needed to deal with the challenges that a rapidly changing job market poses,” said Elena Caprioni, ABMP Program Director. Sessions included topics such as Strategic Design and Innovative Thinking, Communication and Emotional Intelligence, and Data Science to Drive Business Success. But the program wasn't all classroom-centric. Experiential site visits to another educational institution, a large software vendor, a financial institution, and a growing tech start-up, opened their eyes to a range of graduate study and career opportunities in diverse fields. The capstone project had students reflecting on, designing and showcasing their personalized 'Career Roadmap,' a culmination of all of the knowledge and insights they acquired during the program. 

The Faculty of Science at York University collaborated with ABMP on this initiative, helping to shape the curriculum and actively arranging opportunities for their students to share their York University experiences with program participants. Indeed, a variety of extracurricular activities were organized to foster connections between Shanghai University and York University students, including team sports, a photography competition, tours of various departments at York University, and a stargazing experience at the Allen Carswell Observatory on campus.

Hugo Chen, Director of International Collaborations and Partnerships, Faculty of Science, commented on the value of the experience for both Universities: "The opportunity for our science students and the members of Global Leaders of York Science (GLYS) to interact and collaborate with their counterparts from Shanghai has proven invaluable for cross cultural understanding, professional growth and elevating York's profile." 

Similarly, one Shanghai University student described the entire program as "instruction for my life," while another highlighted the long-term benefits of learning essential soft skills like communication, leadership and emotional intelligence in a global city and within York University’ s multicultural academic setting. 

Leveraging the program's success, ABMP is actively expanding collaborations with more Chinese universities. “We take pride in being a platform for global knowledge exchange and youth empowerment. Our aim is to continue offering in-person programs that foster cross-cultural exchanges between Chinese Universities and York University students, enriching their cultural awareness and educational insights” said Caprioni. “Indeed, our programs combine classroom education, hands-on excursions, and introspective sessions, complementing the traditional academic journey of Chinese undergraduates and promoting mutual understanding through shared life experiences."