The Student Entrepreneurship and Innovation Center (SEIC) of the HNU-ASU International College (HAIC) held its new member orientation on Sept 23. The event, hosted by SEIC Executive Director David Chon, attracted an enthusiastic group of new students eager to explore the center’s innovative ecosystem.

The SEIC of the HAIC holds its new member orientation on Sept 23. [Photo/WeChat account: HAIC] 

During his opening remarks, Chon introduced the SEIC’s founding mission and vision. Since its establishment in April, the center has been dedicated to empowering students to create innovative solutions for known and unknown challenges through project-based learning. The SEIC currently runs six core projects: the campus souvenir store, rural children support, Hainan brand promotion, campus life optimization, the Green Campus Initiative and research on the White Paper on Future Development of Hainan’s Service Industry.

David Chon presents mentor appointment letters to Joey Zhou and Alex Andreev. [Photo/WeChat account: HAIC] 

A highlight of the event was the appointment ceremony for two new mentors, Alex Andreev and Joey Zhou. Andreev, with an academic background in computer science and linguistics, specializes in cross-cultural communication and AI content creation. Zhou, a tech investor and CTO of an AI company, brings extensive experience in technological innovation and startup incubation. Their inclusion marks another step toward a more diverse and international mentorship team at the SEIC. 

This semester, the SEIC officially launched its Green Campus Initiative, which encourages students to propose innovative ideas on energy conservation, emission reduction, waste sorting and eco-campus. The initiative aims to integrate sustainable development into the Mission Hills campus and cultivate students’ social responsibility and capacity for green innovation. 

In his closing remarks, Chon expressed his hopes for the new cohort, “We look forward to seeing our students ask questions boldly, take actions and transform creativity into real impact for social progress.” 

The SEIC will open a new round of project recruitment in October, supporting students in turning their potential into momentum for growth in the new academic year.