The University-Corporation Lab (U-Corp Lab), is a co-creation platform established by DKU in cooperation with enterprises. It allows students to participate in corporate projects or public welfare in project-based practice, mastering market-oriented innovative methods and skills, and cultivating excellent innovative talent resources for universities and enterprises.
In the fall of 2024, U-Corp will open 11 projects encompassing AI coaching, public education, climate action, and sustainable development. If you are interested in the project, please refer to the detailed project intro below and submit your application before Sept 18, 2024.
If you would like to learn more about the 2024 spring U-Corp projects and explore the details of U-Corp, come and drop by the 24S U-Corp Lab Carnival: Insights, Reflection, and Showcase happening this Saturday morning at Performance Café (9:30 AM – 1 PM), lunch will be served.
Application DDL: Sept 18, 2024, 11:59 PM (BJT)
Required materials: Resume, Cover Letter (no more than 250 words)
* For more information about Fall U-Corp Lab projects and project operation modes, please visit IB 2A16 or contact zc178@duke.edu for inquiries.
* Program applications are due by 11:59 PM on Sept 18. All 2024 Fall U-Corp projects will kick off on Sept 28.
Project Introduction
U-Corp @ Philosophie AI - Build AI Coaches: Revolutionizing Soft Skills Training and Development
This project leverages AI technology to innovatively enhance the development of learners’ soft skills. Students will conduct market research to identify soft skills that can be effectively cultivated through AI interaction in specific industries and fields. Students will then establish an industry knowledge base and participate in the construction and optimization of AI coaches, simulating real scenarios to provide personalized feedback and coaching.
U-Corp @ Philosophie AI - Mapping the Future of AI Education: A Global Study of Institutional Practices and Innovations
This project focuses on the latest developments and best practices of AI in higher education, aiming to collect and analyze AI policies and user cases to understand the current status, challenges, and future trends. The project will also explore how AI-driven educational methods can enhance students’ creativity, critical thinking, and interdisciplinary collaboration skills.
U-Corp @ Philosophie AI - EduAI: Transforming Learning Experiences with Intelligent Innovation at DKU
This project focuses on developing innovative AI learning applications to enhance teaching effectiveness and learning experiences at DKU. These applications aim to help teachers optimize teaching methods while providing students with adaptive learning tools and immediate feedback, improving classroom engagement and teaching efficiency. The project adopts a design thinking approach, guiding product design through surveys to understand the needs of teachers and students, developing and testing prototypes, and continuously improving. The ultimate goal is to create an AI educational tool that meets the unique needs of Duke Kunshan University and promotes its widespread application in various educational environments.
U-Corp @ The Climate App - Sustainable Climate Engagement Research: Market Trends and User Demands in the US and UK
The global climate crisis is one of the most pressing issues affecting us today. To address this challenge, “The Climate App” has developed a platform that uses technology to promote sustainable development and encourage environmentally friendly behaviors. This project aims to conduct market research to identify the best market fit for “The Climate App” in the US and UK. Students will analyze market and user demands through quantitative and qualitative research methods and explore opportunities for app improvement. Ultimately, students will write a report providing recommendations for market strategy.
U-Corp @ The Climate App - Elevating Climate Awareness: A Global and Impactful Interactive Engaging Campaign Initiative
The global climate crisis has profound impacts on the environment, economy, and society, and the urgency to address it is increasing. This project aims to develop and implement innovative marketing and communication campaigns to raise public awareness of climate change and promote solutions (such as The Climate App). Students will participate in strategy development, event planning, production of promotional materials, and promotion through various media platforms, gaining practical skills in strategic communication, digital marketing, and event management.
U-Corp @ NewOaks AI - Global AI-Assistant Insights in Customer Service: Decoding Market Dynamics in the US and EU
This project focuses on understanding the needs of North American and EU enterprise users in AI customer service. Through detailed user research, the project aims to reveal the urgent needs of overseas enterprises for AI customer service features, helping NewOaks AI to better optimize its products and accurately position the market. Students will conduct in-depth research on the application of AI customer service and the specific preferences and needs of enterprise users through case analysis, surveys, and interviews. Participants will master market research, user research, and data analysis skills and ultimately complete a market research report, providing important insights for product optimization.
U-Corp @ Kunshan Beibu Xincheng Culture and Tourism - Innovative Integration and Revitalization Practices of Kunshan Granary: Exploring Sustainable Economic Development of Industrial Heritage
The traditional granaries of Luyang and Zhoushi in Kunshan, once a symbol of Jiangnan, have been transformed into a complex area that integrates artistic restaurants, art galleries, workshops, and wellness centers. This transformation not only gives new life to the ancient granaries but also enhances the cultural atmosphere of the northern city of Kunshan. The project aims to design innovative operation plans to integrate these ancient buildings into modern life, stimulating commercial and cultural potential. Under the guidance of mentors, students will learn how to enhance the vitality of historical and cultural blocks, and inject new vitality into Kunshan’s cultural and economic development.
U-Corp @ Huochai Box - Empowering Rural Children's Growth: Exploring Innovative Connections Bridging Rural Communities and Compassionate Stakeholders
This project aims to closely connect rural children with DKU students, enterprises, and public welfare organizations through innovative methods, enhancing the social impact of Huochai Box. The project will study existing public welfare connection models, construct a comprehensive portrait of rural children, and explore cooperation plans with stakeholders. By interviewing to understand the needs of rural children, developing specific activity plans, and operation, the project will collect feedback in real-time, optimize public welfare activities, and support the comprehensive development of rural children.
U-Corp @ PEER - Project E: Exploring Innovative Paths to Enhance County-Level High School Students' Adaptation to Higher Education
In China, county high school students often face challenges during the transition period after the college entrance examination, usually due to a lack of adequate preparation. Project E aims to address this issue by simulating university life and providing guidance on college applications, helping county-level students better adapt to the university environment. The project is divided into two parts: understanding students’ feedback on university life and designing new modules in Project E to further enrich their university experience, including more content about university culture and practical operations. In this way, the Project E will provide more practical support for county high school students, helping them transition smoothly to university.
U-Corp @ Uplink - Investigate the Status Quos and Challenges of High-Impact Startups in China
This project aims to study high-impact seed-stage and pre-seed startups in China, especially those committed to achieving the 17 United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). We will explore the ecosystem of these startups, the main challenges they face, and their coping strategies The research focuses on innovation centers such as Beijing, Shanghai, and Shenzhen and will pay attention to fields such as healthcare, education, clean energy, and technology. The focus is on understanding how these companies overcome difficulties in the early stages to achieve financial sustainability and social impact.
U-Corp @ M&G - The Pulse of Art in Rural Education: How Aesthetic Practice Shape Students' Growth and Futures
This project aims to evaluate the effectiveness of the aesthetic education project promoted by the M&G Foundation in rural areas. Aesthetic education improves the aesthetic literacy and humanistic quality of rural students through art education, helping them develop creativity, critical thinking, and emotional expression. The research will use methods such as questionnaires, interviews, and on-site observations to systematically analyze the impact of these projects on students’ psychological health and academic growth. The project will also explore the advantages and disadvantages of aesthetic education courses and provide suggestions for improvement to promote the further application and promotion of aesthetic education in rural education.
