International students say 'yes' to China

The university's Asia-Pacific engagement extends beyond exchange programs.

In May, CUHK-Shenzhen hosted the APEC young scholars forum, bringing together 56 young scholars from 13 economies and more than 800 guests and participants.

Rather than limiting the event to the academic community, the university invited its own students. About 300 students attended sessions as observers and 72 volunteered, says Chen Heng, assistant to the president of CUHK-Shenzhen.

The forum also featured students wearing traditional clothing, accompanied by music from their home cultures.

"It created a sense of familiarity and warmth," Chen says.

Participants later visited Shenzhen companies, giving them a firsthand look at the city's technology and industrial development.

For Chen, such experiences help make internationalization tangible for students, rather than simply something they read about.

The university is now exploring ways to combine coursework with internships, while expanding cooperation in areas such as artificial intelligence, the digital economy and green development.

The Academic Links Office's Ke says the ultimate goal is not simply to increase the number of students crossing borders but to build relationships that continue after graduation.

"Today's exchange students may become researchers, entrepreneurs or professionals in different fields tomorrow," he says. "The relationships they build while studying can lay the groundwork for future cooperation."

The university has already seen former exchange students return to Shenzhen after graduation to pursue entrepreneurship, including one who entered the digital content sector and another who transformed a family audio manufacturing business into an independent brand.

For Saparat and Copeland Costanzo, however, the long-term possibilities remain open.

Saparat is only beginning to learn about the city, language and culture. Copeland Costanzo says he may eventually become more involved with the Asia-Pacific region, although he does not yet know whether that future will take him to China or elsewhere.

What they do share is a willingness to remain curious — an attitude increasingly reflected in the international students arriving at CUHK-Shenzhen.

Saparat believes China could be a good place for other young people in the region to begin their own international journey.

"China is very similar to Thailand," he says. "It is very easy to adapt to compared with Europe, America, etc. I believe it will be a very good start for many people."

Copeland Costanzo puts the idea even more simply.

"Just come with a 'yes' mindset," he says. "China is so big and unique that you need to say yes to everything."