On April 24, the Institute for Global Public Policy (IGPP) at Fudan University organized a field research visit for undergraduate students in the “Global Public Policy and Governance” program to the Shanghai Yanze Social Work Development Center (Yanze Center). The visit aimed to bridge classroom learning with real-world practice and deepen students’ understanding of social work in China within a global governance context. The research group was led by Dean Yijia Jing of IGPP and was accompanied by Assistant Professor Xin Ye and a group of undergraduate students.

The field research was conducted at the Third Neighbor Center of the Yanji Community. Qiuyue Wang, Executive Director of the Yanze Center, warmly welcomed the delegation and participated in an in-depth interview with the research group. Ms. Wang emphasized that social work serves as a crucial bridge between policy design and public needs. She provided an overview of the center’s development, recent growth trajectory, and core service, while also highlighting the experiences and challenges faced in project implementation. She noted that the complexity of grassroots work requires practitioners to possess not only a solid understanding of policy but also adaptable problem-solving skills. Professor Jing expressed gratitude for the center’s warm hospitality. He praised the center’s ongoing innovation and dedication to its social service mission and encouraged students to draw valuable lessons from its work.

Subsequently, students and faculty toured key service areas of the Yanze Center, including the People’s Deliberation Hall. These spaces integrate six core functions—Party-mass engagement, public service delivery, deliberative consultation, conflict mediation, neighborhood cultural development, and public service project incubation—forming a comprehensive governance platform.

After the tour, the delegation participated in an in-depth discussion with Ms. Wang from the perspective of public policy and administration. Drawing on the theoretical and practical knowledge acquired through their academic program as well as personal interests, students actively raised questions on topics such as resource allocation and public service delivery. Ms. Wang responded to each question with professional insights.

Professor Jing offered a concluding reflection, emphasizing that Yanze’s practical experience demonstrates the dynamic interplay between policy flexibility and societal resilience. He hoped that IGPP and the Yanze Center will establish a long-term partnership to co-develop a closed-loop ecosystem that links academic research, policy translation, and practice innovation—ultimately enhancing the social effectiveness of public policies. On behalf of the students and faculty, Professor Jing presented Ms. Wang with a set of Fudan University souvenirs—including a Fudan bear, notebook, and pencils—as a gesture to support the center’s upcoming summer programs.

This visit forms part of a broader series of experiential learning activities organized by the undergraduate program in “Global Public Policy and Governance.” Moving forward, IGPP will continue to strengthen partnerships with grassroots governance institutions, with the goal of equipping students with analytical skills and the practical capacity to address complex policy challenges in real-world settings.

   The Undergraduate Program in “Global Public Policy and Governance” is jointly initiated by IGPP, the International Cultural Exchange School, and the LSE-Fudan Research Centre for Global Public Policy. Drawing on Fudan University’s strengths in global public policy and intercultural communication, as well as its strategic partnership with LSE, the program offers an interdisciplinary, cutting-edge, and internationally oriented curriculum focusing on global public affairs and governance. Through this program, students gain a foundational understanding of the key concepts, theories, developments, frontier issues, methods, and case studies in global public policy and governance. This prepares them for advanced academic study and practical engagement in the field. For more details, please refer to the program page: Undergraduate Program in Global Public Policy and Governance.

Founded in July 2011, the Shanghai Yanze Social Work Development Center is a community-based social service organization staffed by professionals with backgrounds in social work and related fields. Over the years, the center has deeply engaged with local communities, dedicating itself to advancing indigenous social work practices and research in China. It collaborates closely with government agencies, enterprises, foundations, universities, and other professional institutions to mobilize resources and promote community development. Through sustained frontline practice, the center has developed effective models of applying professional social work methods across various domains such as youth services. Its innovative efforts in the social work sector have earned it numerous honors from both governmental and industry bodies, including the National Worker Pioneer Award.