On July 2, 2026, the Kick-off Meeting of the Global Competence Development Program (GCDP) – Australian Chamber of Commerce (AustCham) Shanghai Project was officially launched at Antai College of Economics and Management (ACEM), Shanghai Jiao Tong University (SJTU). This project focuses on the research topic "Adapting to the New Normal: How Australian Products Can Thrive in China’s Transforming Consumer Market," under the guidance of Antai Faculty Supervisors, Associate Professor ZHANG Shuo and Assistant Professor SHEN Liang from Department of Marketing. The GCDP team is composed of six students from diverse academic and cultural backgrounds, including undergraduate exchange students from the University of Melbourne in Australia, alongside students from Antai's undergraduate marketing, economics, finance, and computer science programs.

The project kick-off meeting took place on the afternoon of July 2 at ACEM. Attendees included Professor QU Xi, Associate Dean of ACEM; Associate Professor ZHANG Shuo and Assistant Professor SHEN Liang, Project Faculty Supervisors; Mr. Simon Woods, CEO and Executive Director of AustCham Shanghai; Ms. Judy ZHU, Senior Relation Manager of AustCham Shanghai; Ms. Jing ZHANG, General Manager China of Hive & Wellness Australia; Mr. Grace GU and Ms. Claire YANG, E-commerce Managers China of Noumi; Mr. Raphael ZHANG, China Head of Ashton Valley Fresh; Ms. Janet CHEN, Deputy Director of the International Office; Ms. Linan YAO, GCDP Program Manager; and the student team.

During the opening remarks, Associate Dean QU Xi extended a warm welcome to AustCham Shanghai and the representatives from the three Australian enterprises, expressing her sincere gratitude for their trust and collaboration. Professor QU noted that GCDP empowers students to understand complex international business environments and cultivate global competence through cross-cultural teamwork by addressing real-world business challenges. She emphasized that this project stands as one of the first flagship practical achievements since the recent inception of the Antai Global Competence Development Center. She expressed high expectations for the students to translate academic theories into actionable business proposals that seamlessly align with the localization goals of the participating Australian brands.

Representing AustCham Shanghi, Mr. Simon Woods expressed his appreciation to SJTU Antai for its robust support. He pointed out that while the rapidly iterating Chinese consumer market means overseas brands can no longer rely solely on an "imported" label to succeed, premium Australian products still enjoy a strong foundation of market trust. He remarked that this initiative will leverage Antai’s rigorous professional research capabilities and partner with three premium beverage enterprises to decode consumption trends across various regions, age groups, and scenarios, thereby building a reliable bridge between Australian businesses and the Chinese market.

During the meeting, the leaders of the three Australian enterprises introduced their brand profiles, product portfolios, and current pain points in the Chinese market, clarifying the core directions for the student team's upcoming market study. Following the corporate introductions, Project Faculty Supervisors ZHANG Shuo and SHEN Liang provided academic guidance to the GCDP student team. By breaking down the core research objectives and lecturing on market research methodologies, they guided the students through the initial framework setup and task allocation.

The meeting was moderated by Ms. Janet CHEN, Deputy Director of the International Office.

During the free exchange session, the student team engaged in deep discussions with the corporate representatives regarding the research scope, enterprise resources, and site-visit arrangements, fully aligning on the project’s execution timeline. It is highly anticipated that this internationalized team will collaborate seamlessly to deliver actionable, forward-looking proposals, helping Australian beverages better resonate with local consumers.

Introduction to the Center and Program

[Center Overview]

The Antai Global Competence Development Center was officially established on June 13, 2026. The Center is dedicated to constructing a three-dimensional cultivation framework characterized by "practice enablement, academic support, and industry feedback," thereby promoting a virtuous cycle among talent cultivation, industry service, and industrial upgrading.

[Program Overview]

The Global Competence Development Program (GCDP), formerly known as the Corporate Lab, was established in 2017 by Antai’s International Office. This short-term, project-based initiative is designed to cultivate students' global vision, cross-cultural communication, and practical capabilities. By partnering with international organizations, multinational corporations, and foreign chambers of commerce, GCDP selects top students from Antai and world-class business schools to tackle real-world global challenges. Teams conduct hands-on research on topics such as artificial intelligence, sustainable development, global economics, and public health. Through this collaboration, participants deliver actionable proposals that yield both commercial value and lasting societal impact.