The 2025 SJTU SDG July Camp officially opened on the afternoon of June 22, bringing together nearly 500 faculty members and students from 40 countries and regions in a virtual gathering. The opening ceremony was attended by Liu Weidong, Vice President of Shanghai Jiao Tong University, and James George, Deputy Resident Representative of the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) China, who both delivered speeches.
At the opening ceremony, Professor Liu Weidong, Vice President of Shanghai Jiao Tong University, delivered a welcome speech. On behalf of the university, he extended the warmest welcome to participants from around the world and expressed heartfelt gratitude to the faculty, teaching assistants, and staff for their dedication. He emphasized that the SDG July Camp is committed to building a platform for global youth to share knowledge and enhance capabilities in sustainable development. He encouraged more young people worldwide to join the initiative, leveraging diverse expertise to generate innovative solutions and drive broader action and practice. In closing, Professor Liu sincerely thanked Mr. James George, Deputy Resident Representative of UNDP China, for his presence and expressed hope for continued collaboration between Shanghai Jiao Tong University and UNDP to advance the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
Mr. James George, Deputy Resident Representative of UNDP China, spoke highly of the SDG July Camp, commending Shanghai Jiao Tong University for creating this global learning platform that enables outstanding young minds worldwide to deeply engage with sustainable development issues. He shared UNDP China's innovative practices in empowering youth to advance the global goals, emphasizing the indispensable role young people play in driving sustainable development. "You not merely tomorrow’s leaders, you are the changemakers of today".
Following the speeches by distinguished guests, Ms. Ke Lin, Youth Community Advisor from the UNDP Bangkok Regional Office, delivered an insightful keynote presentation titled "Goals for Good: Understanding the SDGs."With compelling clarity, Ms. Lin illustrated the pressing challenges currently facing sustainable development worldwide. Her presentation went beyond theory, showcasing outstanding examples of youth engagement with SDGs across the Asia-Pacific region. Through concrete case studies and practical examples, she deepened participants' understanding of how the sustainable development goals translate into real-world impact.
In the concluding address, Mr. Ma Wei, Deputy Director of International Affairs Division at Shanghai Jiao Tong University, expressed sincere gratitude to all distinguished guests for their insightful speeches. He reiterated that sustainable development is not merely a global agenda, but a shared responsibility for every individual, academic institution, and community. He emphasized that through education, innovation and collaboration, we are fully capable of transforming vision into reality. Mr. Ma expressed his hope that students would carry this inspiration forward by actively exchanging ideas, courageously raising questions and engaging in profound reflection throughout the subsequent courses and activities. Most importantly, he urged participants to internalize the spirit of the SDGs and integrate it into their future learning endeavors and concrete actions.
The opening proceedings concluded with ice-breaking exercises. Through designed group discussions, participants began forming the international networks that will underpin their collaborative work throughout the program.
Launched in 2022, Shanghai Jiao Tong University's SDG July Camp adopts the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) as its framework to deliver an integrated interdisciplinary learning experience, facilitating collaborative education both inside and outside the classroom. Designed to cultivate global perspectives and problem-solving skills, the program has established a strong partnership with the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), which provides real-world case studies to enhance practical learning.
This year, the program offers 17 elective courses, attracting 1,189 students from around the world. Participants represent a diverse and inclusive academic community, ranging from undergraduates to postgraduates. The program features a unique team-based learning approach, where international and domestic students work together under the guidance of dual mentors from China and abroad to develop innovative solutions through workshops and discussions. Beyond core coursework, the 2025 SDG July Camp will also host public lectures and master class led by experts from international organizations and renowned global academics, alongside a variety of cross-cultural exchange activities designed to deepen global engagement and sustainable development awareness.
