In mid-to-late October, with an excited heart, I embarked on a journey to Hangzhou to participate in a high-profile international exchange event—the third West Lake Forum on Higher Education. For me, this was not only an opportunity to understand cutting-edge international educational concepts and engage in international exchanges but also a chance to showcase the demeanor of young students from Shanghai Jiao Tong University.

    On the first day of the forum, several principals from well-known universities at home and abroad attended and shared their views on the theme of "New Directions for Higher Education in Change and Challenge," combining their respective university situations. President Ding Kuiling also attended the forum and delivered a keynote speech, in which he mentioned that internationalization is a catalyst for reshaping innovation and education, and he provided a specific explanation based on the successful experience of the SJTU Paris Elite Institute of Technology and the Jiaotong-UM Joint Institute. During the tea break, I seized the opportunity to consult with attending experts about the doubts that arose during the lecture. I was fortunate to take a commemorative photo with President Ding Kuiling, leaving a precious memory.

    The next day, I attended the student sub-forum, which was conducted entirely in English. In the keynote speech segment, I listened to the insights of students from top universities such as Yale and Harvard on the topic. My group focused on the topic of "Scientific Research and Critical Thinking," and I served as the group spokesperson. Group members, from various professional backgrounds including philosophy, astrophysics, information engineering, and mechanical engineering, dissected the topic from different perspectives and put forward their views. Some opinions were refreshing and inspiring. After a short but enriching discussion, I understood and integrated the multi-dimensional and multifaceted opinions and disagreements of the group members, and combined the famous words of the French philosopher, mathematician, and physicist René Descartes and "Qian Xuesen's Question" to vividly present the discussion results in the concluding speech segment.

    Through this conference, I gained a valuable experience in participating in high-profile international exchanges and communicated face-to-face with many renowned scholars. In addition, I met many peers from all over the world with different backgrounds and established contacts with the teachers and students of Westlake University, the organizer of the forum. During these two days of the forum, I took the initiative to communicate, constantly raised questions, and organized several rounds of exchanges, which not only exercised my abilities but also left a good impression on the teachers and students present, showcasing the global vision and comprehensive quality of students from Shanghai Jiao Tong University to all representatives.