to the 3M Innovation Center.
This summer, students from three Chinese universities spent six weeks learning about American transportation and culture as part of a training program offered by the Global Transit Innovations (GTI) Program.
Thirty-two students from Southeast University, Nanjing Tech University, and Northwest University participated in the program, which included courses on GIS, transportation planning, English speaking and writing, and cross-cultural communication. They also attended a variety of transportation-focused seminars both on and off campus, including tours of U of M labs, 3M’s Innovation Center, and the St. Croix River Crossing.
In addition, students participated in cultural activities at locations around the Twin Cities, such as Fort Snelling and the Minneapolis Institute of Arts.
“Our hope is that students leave Minnesota with a greater knowledge of the U.S. transportation system and a deepened curiosity to continue their studies and discover new innovations for global transportation,” says CTS director Laurie McGinnis.
The program, first offered in 2016, was developed by CTS, GTI, and the U of M China Center’s Mingda Institute.
GTI is an affiliated program of CTS. Its education component aims to attract bright minds to the transit-planning field.
