For Lu Bingrui, this summer is less about lectures and more about learning how to operate a humanoid robot.

The mechanical engineering student from China's Taiwan region is spending his first internship in Guangzhou, where he works alongside engineers at a robotics startup. Lu learns how machines are designed, tested and deployed beyond the classroom.

"I've always been interested in hardware," Lu said. "So I wanted to learn more about the mechanical design and structure behind robots."

The experience has been eye-opening.

"When I first saw the robot, I was genuinely amazed," he said. "It made me realize how much more advanced this field has become and how much there is to learn."

Lu is one of more than 130 university students from China's Taiwan participating in this year's Guangzhou Taiwan Youth Month internship program. Launched by the city as a flagship platform for cross-Strait youth exchanges, the program has placed them at over 50 companies and institutions across sectors including artificial intelligence, robotics, finance, healthcare and advanced manufacturing.

For other students, the experience goes beyond hardware.

Qiu Siqi, who studies data science and artificial intelligence, is spending her internship working on software-related projects.

"I've learned how to work as part of a team and take part in AI and software projects," she said. "It's also given me the chance to apply what I learned at university in a real working environment."

The internship reflects a growing demand for hands-on experience in emerging technologies.

"Embodied AI is one of the hottest technology fields in the world today," said Liu Zhuoyun, co-founder of robotics company Jacobi.ai. "The Greater Bay Area has one of the world's most complete robotics supply chains, making it a natural place for students who want practical experience."

The opportunities available to students also extend beyond startups.

Companies including China Southern Power Grid opened research platforms to young people interested in fields such as smart grids and green energy.

"We hope these students can gain a firsthand understanding of Chinese mainland's advances in energy technology," said Liu Yao, deputy general manager of Zhuhai Hengqin Power Supply Bureau under China Southern Power Grid. "We also hope they can serve as a bridge for future cross-Strait exchanges in science and technology."

Since the program was launched in 2018, more than 2,200 university students from China's Taiwan region have participated in internships and exchanges in Guangzhou.

For many of them, the experience is not only about gaining workplace skills. It is also an opportunity to see how emerging industries are developing in the Greater Bay Area, and where they might fit into that future.