Shanghai Zhenhua Heavy Industry Co. Ltd and School of Mechanical Engineering are jointly carrying out Overseas Advanced Studies for Young Teachers, supporting 30 excellent young teachers to receive 6-12 months further study abroad. Associate Professor, WANG Tong, from Turbo-machinery Institute, ME-SJTU, as the first elected young teacher, went to Penn State University in this August to teach and study for one year.
 
In Penn State, Ms. Wang is now teaching Thermal Science Introduction, which is a combination of Classical Thermodynamics, Fluid Mechanics and Heat Transfer. The course is for non-mechanical-engineering students, such as, students from Aerospace Engineering, Civil Engineering, Environment Engineering, etc, teaching basic concepts of Thermal Science, fundamental laws of nature and their engineering application, techniques of solving real-life problems using preliminary ideas of Thermal Science.

Ms. Wang is giving lessons on Monday, Wednesday and Friday every week, totally 150mins. Office hour is no less than 4 hours. Her animated performances, well-paced thoroughness, enthusiasm and confidence engage students' attention successfully and make students' attendance always 100%.
 
During her teaching, Ms. Wang is spontaneous to explore the differences existed in undergraduate lecturing between China and US by listening to other professors' courses and offering to be a teaching assistant to an American Professor. She found the big differences between the two countries in teaching. Professors in US provide an active example of learning and processing information that, in turn, helped students digest the material on their own. Moreover, teachers encourage interaction and volunteer their own reactions and opinions, not learning as passive acquisition. 

Furthermore, Ms. Wang suggests SJTU should set up more public courses like Thermal Science Introduction in Penn State, which are open to all SJTU students. Through learning, students' knowledge can be broadened and their horizon can be widened.
 
Overseas Advanced Studies for Young Teachers helps young teachers see the world. During their stay abroad, they completely immerse themselves in the life of the school and the country, providing them with a real opportunity to find out more about local culture. More important, they are exposed to different teaching methodologies and approaches, which can definitely enrich their teaching practice and expand their vision.
 
In addition, ME-SJTU will sign Memorandum of Understanding with Penn State this November in US, covering undergraduate exchange program, students' course design abroad, PhD jointly training, faculty advanced study, etc.