A student from Dubai relishes the educational opportunities in Shanghai

When Mohammed Faisal Al Shehhi showed up for our interview on the last day of National Day, our conversation started in English but then briefly switched to Mandarin, which the Dubai resident speaks impeccably.

Currently studying mechanical engineering at the University of Michigan in Shanghai, Jiao Tong University in Shanghai is, in a sense, a fusion of two cultures.

His mother was raised in the Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region of China and taught him Chinese, although he is pleased to note that Mandarin is becoming more common in the curriculum in his native United Arab Emirates (UAE).

It is thanks to his mother that he studies in Shanghai.

“I applied to many universities, from the UK to Australia,” he said. “China wasn’t on my priority list until my mother suggested I seriously consider it.

After researching several universities in China, he discovered that the Joint Institute of the University of Michigan and Shanghai Jiao Tong University (UM-SJTU JI) provided opportunities that suited his ambitions. He applied and then started his studies here in September 2023.

Jiao Tong University is “one of the most respected universities in China,” he said. “The main focus is on students, not only in terms of educational experience but also intensive extracurricular activities. The core values ​​of this university are qualities I truly admire.”

Shehhi said he is impressed with the students here, whom he considers determined, highly disciplined and hard-working.

“They are hard workers,” he said. “It’s really inspiring for me to see them working day after day. They have goals that they are determined to achieve and they take advantage of all the opportunities offered to them. The Chinese education system is truly focused on student success.”

Our conversation, just after Shehhi returns home from her holiday trip, takes place in the Longbin building at the university. It is a spacious facility with a terraced atrium and comfortable sofas and desks. Students are provided with plenty of space to study, eat and even take a nap.

Shehhi said he loved Shanghai, calling it “one of the most beautiful cities I have ever visited. What I like most about this city is that you can experience all four seasons, unlike the UAE where the summers are very hot but the winters are pleasant.”

He added: “When I was younger, I went to Inner Mongolia every summer to visit my grandparents, and even at this time it was pleasantly cool there.”

Shehhi noted similarities between Shanghai and Dubai. For example, both are financial centers.

Shehhi said Shanghai offers such a wide range of cuisines that international students have no reason to miss home cooking.

“You can find whatever you want to eat in Shanghai, whether it’s Arabic cuisine or Indian cuisine,” he said.

The distance between his campus in the Minhang district and the city center was not a barrier at all, and there is a metro station on Line 15 right next to his university, with shared bikes available.

“I can easily go anywhere in Shanghai because the farthest places usually only take an hour or two to travel to,” he said. “Everything is easily accessible. It is a very international, people-friendly city.”

A typical Shehhi day consists of three activities.

“The first one is training in the gym. I also love wrestling, which I took up during my military service in the UAE,” he said. “The second thing is learning. I usually spend three to four hours a day in libraries or in my dorm studying. The third thing is good meals.”

This routine is sometimes interrupted by special events, such as the recent forum in Shenzhen to mark the 40th anniversary of diplomatic relations between China and the UAE.

There, he hosted a session on the cultural aspects of his homeland, aimed at dispelling the popular misconception that the United Arab Emirates is all about money and Lamborghinis.

After completing his bachelor’s degree in mechanical engineering, Shehhi said he hopes to play a role in the UAE by promoting a “fruitful relationship” between the two counties – “a relationship that will deepen mutual understanding and allow us both to learn and grow together.” “