Jiayuan Tian, Cofounder of an Education Social Enterprise, Discusses How SIPA Shaped His Understanding of Urban Policy

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After studying in cities across six countries – San Francisco, Seoul, Berlin, London, Buenos Aires, and Beijing – during his undergraduate years, Jiayuan Tian MPA ’27 cofounded an international education social enterprise, OneXplore. He then enrolled at SIPA to explore how urban and social policy shape youth opportunities. A native of China, Tian is driven by a mission to expand educational and professional opportunities for young people.

Tell me more about your background before SIPA. What led to your decision to attend Columbia?

I graduated from Minerva University, based in San Francisco, last year. Its most distinctive feature was its “seven cities in four years” model, where I was able to study in different cities and countries each semester. So I lived in San Francisco, Seoul, Berlin, London, Buenos Aires, and Beijing. That experience made me develop a strong curiosity about global [urban] challenges, and I wanted to share similar educational opportunities with other young professionals. 

That led me to cofound OneXplore, which offers international education resources for young people. I started to notice that not everyone had the same access to information about international education across different countries, communities, and schools. So we consolidated all these resources into a Knowledge Hub, where students can access scholarships, internships, and international exchange programs. To support them further, we also offer application guides directly from program participants to help them in their application process.

Amazing! What other projects at OneXplore were most meaningful to you?

Helping lead and create OneXplore’s youth profiles, which detail young people’s personal stories and careers, was really meaningful. So far, we’ve published over 1,000 profiles that document individual stories. One profile that comes to mind was about two individuals in rural China who were focused on improving children’s educational outcomes. Their work is incredibly meaningful, even though their voices are often overlooked. By publishing their stories, we help amplify their efforts. 

That’s really inspiring. What originally sparked your interest in Urban and Social Policy?

As an undergrad, I observed significant differences in urban systems, especially in safety, migration, mental health, and education. For example, I witnessed how Seoul and Buenos Aires have very different education systems. In South Korea, students undergo an intense competition to enter university, whereas in Buenos Aires, university entry is more accessible. These differences shape young people’s life trajectories, mental health, and decisions about studying abroad. Social policies play an important role in helping understand and address these differences, which is why I chose Urban and Social Policy at SIPA.

Beyond your academics, what extracurricular activities have you been involved in at SIPA?

I currently serve as the treasurer for SIPA’s Greater China Initiative, which is a cultural club for students interested in the Greater China region. The role has given me opportunities to connect with alumni from China and organize events that bring together Chinese students and professionals to discuss their work and motivations. We also organize panels regularly, such as inviting SIPA alumni from China to share their experiences and advice with current students. In fact, we’re hosting a panel soon on consulting careers with SIPA alumni from China. I’ve also published articles in the Morningside Post. One of my pieces showcased some of the challenges my home city in China, Ningbo, faced surrounding deficiencies in healthcare risk assessments, leading to an infant’s death. Being able to spotlight issues from my hometown was really valuable to me. 

Who are some of your favorite SIPA professors, and what have been your favorite classes?

One professor who stood out was Yumi Shimabukuro, who taught my Comparative Social Welfare Policy course. She was very attentive to individual student development and organized many in-class discussions and activities. Another course I took was Gender, Politics, and Development, taught by Professors Eugenia McGill and Maxine Weisgrau.

What advice would you give students about making the most of their SIPA degree?

I’d recommend that students without a strong quantitative background spend extra time studying for foundational courses, like Quantitative Analysis. SIPA really emphasizes these quantitative courses as a foundation for research design and evaluation, and the material becomes very challenging over time. Understanding the concepts isn’t enough because the course material asks you to apply them to real-world scenarios, requiring additional practice.

I also strongly encourage cross-registering at other schools, like the Journalism School, since their courses complement SIPA’s curriculum well. I took a class there called How to Write on International Issues, which really helped me as a writer. Finally, I would emphasize building strong relationships with classmates. Many already have several years of professional experience, so learning from their perspectives is extremely valuable.

How have your professional goals changed since coming to SIPA?

Previously, I was focused mainly on international education for Chinese students. Now, I am more interested in the intersection of social policy and urban planning. I want to understand how these two fields influence education systems and youth development. This was mainly influenced by taking courses in social welfare policy. I realized that policy design plays a long-term role in shaping education systems and individual outcomes. That perspective changed how I think about my career direction.