The University of Science and Technology of China has launched a series of high-level international cooperation and exchange activities to strengthen its internationalization capacity and influence across the world.

Now housing 849 international students, USTC is collaborating with more than 210 top universities and research organizations from 35 countries. It also invited 1,800 foreign experts from 46 countries to visit the university for research and teaching in 2019.

For Victor Sagel, a Dutch student from the University of Twente who visited USTC for the chemistry and life science sub-camp of the USTC Future Scientist International Summer Camp, the trip to the Chinese top academy in July 2017 was an "amazing experience" and an "incredible adventure".

"For the first time, I have been surrounded by students from universities from many different countries," he recalled, saying he valued the opportunity to visit numerous laboratories and communicate with academics at Hefei-based USTC. The experience "gave a great indication about the level and way of performing research at USTC".

"I also appreciate having learned that China will probably become the largest economy in the future, giving it a reasonable chance that people like me become an expat in China."

Jord Haven, another Dutch student who participated in the same camp programs, said her time at USTC "boosted my self-dependence, both as a researcher and as a person", while her vision toward China and its culture "has changed drastically".

For Kawasaki Yuki, a Japanese scholar who studied in the Sino-Japan USTC International Summer Camp on Advanced Sciences and Cultural Heritage in 2019, he said he was proud of being able to live and work in a city in the world's fastest-growing country.

Two years later, upon finishing graduate studies, Kawasaki moved to Shanghai in East China to work, focusing on local population and economic growth, as well as macroeconomic data and research.

Kathryn Chang Barker, a visiting professor at USTC from Canada, said: "USTC has produced top-tier scientists and researchers. In the field of science and technology, there are countless aspiring scientists, students and professors, on the USTC track to recognition as academics or as entrepreneurs who may create the next big product or business."

Currently, there are "many and varied opportunities presented to both international students and faculty at USTC," Barker said.