On May 12th, Shanghai Jiao Tong University (SJTU) President Kuiling Ding warmly welcomed University of Ottawa (UO) President Jacques Frémont and his delegation to the Minhang Campus for a high-level dialogue concerning plans for future collaboration.

During the visit, President Ding extended provided the delegation with an outline of the university’s four major initiatives, focusing on ocean sustainability, health innovation, digital intelligence, and entrepreneurship through Grand NeoBay, one of SJTU’s key innovation hubs. He also shared the university’s vision for advancing interdisciplinary research, nurturing talent, and driving innovation—emphasizing the university’s strong, long-standing relationship with the University of Ottawa and expressing a desire to elevate their collaboration even further.

President Frémont echoed the enthusiasm, stating that the partnership with SJTU is one of UO’s most valued global connections. He also provided an overview of UO’s strengths in medicine, social sciences, and other key areas, and expressed excitement for further collaboration in the fields of medicine, life sciences, and law. Beyond academic cooperation, President Frémont sees the partnership as two institutions joining forces to tackle some of the world’s most pressing challenges.

Representatives from SJTU’s Office of International Cooperation and Exchange, KoGuan School of Law, Shanghai Advanced Institute of Finance, and the Shanghai-Ottawa Joint School of Medicine also attended the meeting.

Founded in 1848 in the heart of Canada’s capital, the University of Ottawa is Canada’s oldest and the world’s largest English-French university. The top-tier research institution is a member of the U7+ Alliance of World Universities representing G7 nations, the U15 Group of Canadian Research Universities, and the Association of Commonwealth Universities.