Alexandre Beaudin, a Canadian sophomore student at Shanghai Jiao Tong University Global College (SJTUGC, abbreviated as GC) received the Nomination Award for 2025 SJTU “Elites of International Students” in a final appraisal and award ceremony held on November 10 at the SJTU Student Center.
The annual selection, organized by the SJTU Student Affairs Steering Committee, attracted wide participation from international students across the university. Following college-level recommendations and university-level preliminary evaluations, 12 finalists, including Beaudin, advanced to the final appraisal stage.
Beaudin is currently pursuing his undergraduate studies at GC and serves as the President of GC’s International Student Association. Since his enrollment, he has demonstrated strong academic performance and innovative spirit. His self-designed quadruped robot dog won the “Best Presentation Award” at GC’s annual design expo. Beyond academics, Beaudin actively engages in social practice and cross-cultural exchange.
Beaudin stands before his poster during the SJTU final appraisal event.
As a mixed-heritage student of French-Canadian and Chinese descent, Beaudin has long felt a connection to China. His decision was affirmed during a family visit to China in 2023. Traveling across the country via high-speed rail and engaging in conversations with locals in cities like Shanghai, Beijing, and Chongqing, Alexandre was struck by the richness and vitality of Chinese culture. The experience ignited his desire to delve deeper into his roots and play a role in fostering intercultural understanding.
His cultural journey continued when he took the stage during a Chinese opera performance organized as part of a World Theatre Day event. After several intensive rehearsals guided by seasoned artists, Beaudin donned traditional makeup and costume to participate in a live performance — an experience he describes as a powerful and lasting cultural dialogue.
Through weekend city walks, Beaudin has been exploring Shanghai step by step, tracing the threads of its history and development. From the whistle of the Huangpu River ferry to the literary atmosphere of the bookstore in Shanghai Tower, each encounter has deepened his understanding of the city while allowing him to form new friendships along the way.
Beaudin’s passion for visual storytelling began in middle school, when he started editing videos to document his journey in game development and programming. Later, as head of the student union’s media team, he led the production of numerous promotional videos for campus events, discovering the power of film to connect communities. That experience proved invaluable when he led a team in the 2024 “Explore Shanghai” short video competition. Their project, centered on the Songjiang District — often called the “root of Shanghai” — won First Prize at SJTU and the “Best Storytelling” award from the Chinese Service Center for Scholarly Exchange, China’s Ministry of Education.
He continues to use his lens to connect with cultures — most recently during a youth cultural exchange program in Suzhou sponsored by China Daily. There, Beaudin joined other international students in visiting historic sites like Shantang Street and Sanlian Bookstore, experiencing woodblock printing, tasting local delicacies, and exploring the aesthetics of Jiangnan architecture. He recorded the journey as a vlog, aiming to share this authentic cultural experience with a broader audience.
Beaudin explores traditional Chinese bamboo carving and folding fan craftsmanship at Shangwu, Zhejiang Province.
