Speiters
Youth shines through perseverance, and role models become inspiring through hard work. At the SJTU Paris Elite Institute of Technology (SPEIT), you will benefit from a world-class Sino-French educational environment, rigorous training in mathematics and engineering fundamentals, internationally oriented research platforms, and a direct pathway toward becoming a globally competitive engineer. Choose SPEIT, and let excellence become your defining quality. Expand your horizons through intercultural exchange and engineering practice, and write your own chapter as an outstanding engineer of the new era with bilingual competence and a global perspective.
In this issue, we meet Chen Peining, recipient of the National Scholarship and an undergraduate student from the Class of 2022., whose journey of growth, marked by scientific innovation, interdisciplinary exploration, and social engagement, fully embodies the diligent, thoughtful, and inspiring spirit of SPEIT students.
Chen Peining
SJTU Paris Elite Institute of Technology
Undergraduate Student, Class of 2022, Shanghai Jiao Tong University
Academic Focus: Major in French; Minor in Information Engineering
Honors:
Gold Medal at the International Final of the International Genetically Engineered Machine Competition (iGEM)
Shanghai Gold Award in the China International College Students’ “Internet+” Innovation and Entrepreneurship Competition (2025)
Grand Prize in Shanghai’s “Zhixing Cup” Social Practice Competition
National Outstanding Team in the “Sanxiaxiang” Social Practice Program for Chinese University and High School Students
Outstanding Student of Shanghai
Outstanding Youth League Cadre of Shanghai Jiao Tong University
Student Leadership:
Science and Technology Innovation Advisor of Shanghai Jiao Tong University
President of the Science and Technology Innovation Association of Shanghai Jiao Tong University
President of the Psychological Service Station of SPEIT
Head of the SPEIT Young Volunteers Team
Personal Motto:
Build logic through coding, and convey warmth through action.
Growth Story
1
From the beginning of her university journey, Chen Peining demonstrated strong intellectual curiosity and a passion for interdisciplinary exploration. She actively participated in various scientific and technological innovation activities, including robotics competitions, drone system design, and mathematical modeling, continuously strengthening her engineering practice capabilities.
Meanwhile, she actively engaged in campus cultural activities. Through her piano training, she performed at the graduation ceremony for master’s students. She also participated in original bilingual Chinese-French theatrical performances and productions featuring the history of the university, deepening her understanding of technological development and historical trajectories through artistic expression. These experiences reflected the integration of scientific literacy and humanistic spirit.
Throughout her four years of undergraduate study, Chen Peining has always regarded academic excellence as the foundation of personal growth. Facing a curriculum fully taught in French, intensive training in mathematics and fundamental sciences, and demanding engineering practices in cutting-edge fields, she maintained a rigorous and progressive approach.
Having started learning French with no prior background, she gradually overcame linguistic challenges while developing strong abilities in mathematics and science. In her third year, she achieved an overall evaluation score of 98.43/100, ranking first in her cohort.
Beyond academic achievement, Chen Peining has always connected personal development with collective progress. As a key member of the Academic Excellence Mentoring Group of SPEIT, she actively contributed to the school’s academic support system and regularly organized tutoring sessions and experience-sharing activities for junior students.
2
Chen Peining’s growth has never been limited to classroom learning. While consolidating academic knowledge, she has consistently sought to apply engineering skills to real-world problems and expand her capabilities through innovative projects. Under the guidance of her supervisor, she participated in the development of a speech synthesis system and contributed to the transformation of technological achievements through collaboration with enterprises. This experience directly connected engineering knowledge acquired in courses with real industrial needs.
In cultural innovation, she worked with her team on the application of extended reality (XR) technology. This project won the Shanghai Gold Award in the China International College Students’ Innovation Competition. On the international stage of scientific innovation, she participated with her team in the global final of the iGEM Competition, developing an intelligent bioengineering platform and ultimately winning a Gold Medal.
“Rather than focusing only on the final result, I care more about whether a technology can truly solve a problem.” This pragmatic and problem-solving-oriented mindset represents one of the core values of SPEIT’s engineering education.
3
Beyond classrooms and laboratories, Chen Peining has always embraced SPEIT’s spirit of Sino-French integration and extended her development into broader social spaces. Through concrete engagement and social practice activities, she gradually developed a deeper understanding of responsibility and commitment.
During her undergraduate studies, she participated in 11 social practice activities, serving as team leader in six of them. Her experiences took her from villages in Jiangnan to western regions of China. In Bazhong, Sichuan Province, she organized a summer camp on life sciences and artificial intelligence for local students, inspiring their interest in scientific innovation. In Xiong’an New Area, she explored the development of smart cities through field research. In the uninhabited areas of Qinghai, she participated in a team investigation on the application of communication technologies.
Through these experiences and reflections, she gradually became convinced that the ultimate purpose of engineering lies in its ability to address real social needs.
This spirit of exploring beyond oneself is also reflected in her dedication to cultural exchange and public service. Immersed in the international environment of SPEIT, she has actively engaged in promoting exchanges between Chinese and French youth as well as cross-cultural communication. As the leader of the SPEIT Youth Volunteer Team, she organized signature activities such as the Sino-French Cultural Festival and French language volunteer teaching programs, and participated in the establishment of the French conversation club “Le Coin Français”, creating a sustainable platform for regular exchanges between Chinese and French students.
She also completed an internship at the Association for Talent and Cultural Exchanges under the Belt and Road Initiative, where she taught Chinese and ntroduced Chinese culture to French high school students, promoting mutual understanding among young generations through the power of language.
Her commitment to public service has never ceased. She initiated the “Blue Envelope” letter-exchange charity project, led the establishment of a peer psychological support system at SPEIT, and contributed to the incubation of scientific innovation competitions on campus. Through these efforts, she has transformed individual initiatives into a collective force that brings warmth and inspiration to those around her.
Rooted in the fertile ground of international collaborative education, Chen Peining has cultivated strong professional competence and cross-cultural communication skills through her sense of responsibility and commitment. From campus exploration to interdisciplinary growth, she has continuously pushed beyond her own boundaries. We hope that in the future, she will pursue advanced studies overseas with the same original aspiration, continue moving forward on a broader stage, and embark on a journey toward greater horizons with unwavering determination.