🖋Laura Baker BBC journalist in China

Chen Tianyu says: “Before I take a short nap, the world will change.”

His world will certainly change. The 28-year-old keeps up with the latest technologies by spending his free time in factories moving toward automation. That way, he knows what to prioritize when teaching artificial intelligence and robotics in class.

In front of him, around 30 students are learning to code. One of them types at speed as his eyes move between the screen and the robot: “The idea is to have it grab that cylindrical piece and move it there.”

A line of industrial robots is waiting to be programmed, and in another part of the class, students are working on developing medical robotics tools. As Chen guides them, he says: “If the world of artificial intelligence and robotics doesn’t need you, you will undoubtedly fall behind competition.”

📸BBC