This summer, another group of ShanghaiTech students will leave their laboratories and classrooms behind to serve in communities across western China.
In early July, the university held a send-off ceremony for participants in the graduate volunteer teacher cohort and the 2026 Go West program, a national volunteer initiative that sends university students to serve in western China. Students from the School of Life Science and Technology, School of Information Science and Technology, and School of Physical Science and Technology will soon begin volunteer and teaching assignments in western China, bringing their knowledge and skills beyond campus and into local communities.
For these students, heading west represents a transition from academic and research training to hands-on service. In the months ahead, they will encounter challenges and realities beyond the campus, applying what they have learned in new settings while engaging with people from diverse backgrounds. The experience offers an opportunity to connect personal growth with the broader needs of society.
At the ceremony, President Feng Donglai said that ShanghaiTech is committed to educating young people with both strong academic foundations and a sense of social responsibility. He encouraged the students to remain grounded in local realities, apply scientific thinking to practical problems, and use their expertise to serve communities while continuing to grow through experience.
During the event, university leaders placed honor sashes on the Go West program participants and the fourth cohort of graduate volunteer teachers. The students also took a pledge before embarking on their upcoming assignments.
University and school leaders with the volunteer service team.
In recent years, a growing number of ShanghaiTech students have chosen to serve at the grassroots level during or after their university study. Since the university’s first student joined the Go West program in Xinjiang in 2022, the volunteer service team has continued to expand.
For the students preparing to depart, the experience will be another form of learning beyond the laboratory—an opportunity to gain a deeper understanding of China’s communities while discovering more about themselves through service.