On December 3, 2023, Professor Frédéric Toumazet, French Dean of the SJTU-ParisTech Elite Institute of Technology, was honored with the prestigious Magnolia Memorial Award by the Shanghai Municipal Government.
The Magnolia Memorial Award recognizes foreign nationals who have made outstanding contributions to the city’s economic, social, and cultural development.
About the Laureate
Professor Toumazet is a distinguished scholar in computer science and applied mathematics and holds doctorates in computer science and physics. Since 2008, he has served as a professor at Université Paris-Est Marne-la-Vallée and served as Vice President for International Affairs and University-Enterprise Relations from 2012 to 2018. He was knighted by the French government with the Ordre des Palmes Académiques in 2011 and awarded the Officer rank in 2016. Since 2018, he has led the French side of SJTU-ParisTech, playing a vital role in deepening Sino-French academic exchange. In 2022, he received the SJTU President’s Award.
Photo: Toumazet at the ceremony
A Lasting First Impression
Toumazet first visited Shanghai in September 2005, and the experience left a lasting mark. “I was struck by how modernity and tradition coexist so beautifully here,” he recalled. That trip sparked his appreciation for Chinese tea culture and introduced him to Peking Opera and the legacy of Chinese sculptor Chongren Zhang —the real-life inspiration behind the character Chang Chong-Chen in The Blue Lotus, a Tintin comic that shaped many Europeans’ early impressions of China.
Toumazet’s first encounter with Shanghai in September 2005 was nothing short of transformative. “I was amazed by how seamlessly modern life blended with centuries-old tradition,” he recalled. That trip sparked his appreciation for Chinese tea culture and introduced him to Peking Opera and the legacy of Chinese sculptor Chongren Zhang—the real-life inspiration behind the character Chang Chong-Chen in The Blue Lotus, a Tintin comic that shaped many Europeans’ early impressions of China.
“When I left, I was already wondering when I could come back,” he said.
Photo: Toumazet speaks to interviewers during the ceremony
From Visitor to Cultural Bridge-Builder
What began as a short visit gradually turned into more than a decade of professional experience in China. Toumazet worked in several major cities across the country, including Shanghai, Beijing, Dalian, and Baotou. In 2018, he applied to lead the SJTU ParisTech Elite Institute of Technology, confident that the position was an ideal blend of his French academic background and his interest in China. He quickly secured a work permit with support from SJTU and the Shanghai Foreign Experts Bureau. His transition was further eased by the fact that his eldest daughter had already settled in Shanghai.
“The institutional support here sends a strong message—it empowers foreigners to become active participants in Sino-French cultural exchange,” he said.
Photo: Visiting Shanghai Southwest Weiyu Middle School for a conversation with high school students
Driving Collaboration in Sino-French Engineering Education
Since taking on the role of French Dean at the SJTU-ParisTech Elite Institute of Technology (SPEIT) in October 2018, Professor Frédéric Toumazet has been at the forefront of creating a model for Sino-French engineering education. He has used his understanding of both educational systems to create a unique educational approach that blends the strengths of China and France.
Toumazet has played a key role in reshaping the curriculum, developing a training model that emphasizes academic excellence, global perspective, and strong ties to industry. Under his leadership, SPEIT has built a solid foundation in interdisciplinary learning and emerged as a launchpad for future engineering leaders. He also expanded collaboration with industry partners and helped establish a cooperative platform linking education, research, and real-world applications.
One of his most notable achievements was guiding the school through the rigorous accreditation process of the French Commission des Titres d'Ingénieur (CTI), a milestone that brought international recognition to SPEIT’s academic quality and reputation. Toumazet also played a key role in enhancing the institute’s global talent strategy, helping establish a robust pipeline for international faculty recruitment. He brought in leading professors from French partner schools and invited industry experts to join the academic conversation, enriching the educational experience with cutting-edge insights.
Photo: Representing SPEIT at a high-level China-France engineering education forum
In early 2020, as the COVID-19 pandemic spread worldwide, Toumazet chose to stay in China, putting off his trip home to France in order to support his students and colleagues in Shanghai. He played a steadying role as the institute faced unprecedented challenges. With his coordination, more than 1,300 hours of online classes were rolled out seamlessly. Remarkably, international faculty recruitment continued to grow, and the institute’s dual-degree exchange programs stayed on track, with 40 students sent abroad to study.
Toumazet is also a long-time member of the French Communist Party, with nearly four decades of membership. To mark the 100th anniversary of the Communist Party of China, he delivered a special lecture at SJTU on the 150th anniversary of the Paris Commune. While visiting Nanhu Lake in Jiaxing, the historic site of the Communist Party of China’s first congress, he reflected, “China’s extraordinary development into one of the world’s leading developing nations is largely thanks to the leadership of the Communist Party.”
Photo: Marking the CPC’s centenary with a lecture on the legacy of the Paris Commune
Photo: Visiting Nanhu Lake in Jiaxing with the institute’s Party branch to honor its revolutionary roots
“I love my work, I love my university, and I truly enjoy planning and engaging in thoughtful conversations with my colleagues,” said Toumazet. “SPEIT is a powerful example of cross-cultural collaboration and plays a vital role in promoting global higher education and international academic exchange.”
A Life of Flavor, Music, and Meaning in Shanghai
Toumazet has found more than just a workplace in Shanghai. For him, the city offers what he describes as a "poetic way of living." He has a deep love for cooking, music, and long walks through historic neighborhoods. These passions have become his way of building bridges between French and Chinese culture.
Each year at SJTU’s Sino-French Cultural Festival, he is a familiar face. Wearing his white chef’s coat, he prepares foie gras and recommends wines that are always a hit among students and faculty. His French cooking classes, hosted by the university’s faculty union, are consistently full. For him, food is a language of connection. “Sharing a meal,” he said, “has become one of the most meaningful ways to bring cultures together on campus.”
Music is another part of his life. He has performed on campus many times, including a duet with his wife Fredy Tabourin, who also teaches French at the institute. Most recently, he performed a flute solo titled Whispers from a Hidden Garden at SJTU’s 2023 International Arts Night.
Outside of work, Toumazet enjoys wandering through Shanghai’s historical districts. He finds beauty in the city’s Art Deco buildings and often pauses in local gardens to listen to musicians playing traditional Chinese instruments like the erhu and bamboo flute. “Whenever I leave Shanghai, I miss it deeply,” he said. “If feeling that way means you belong, then yes—I have found a sense of belonging here.”
Photo: French cuisine class hosted by the SJTU Faculty Union
Photo: The original SPEIT play Le Flambeau Vivant, portraying two generations pursuing national strength through studies in France
Photo: Toumazet performing the flute on stage
Toumazet describes Shanghai as a dynamic, unique, and global city. To him, Shanghai serves as a vital hub connecting China with the international community. He also sees Shanghai as a “factory of new ideas,” where innovation in art, culture, and science thrives thanks to the passion and creativity of its people.
In the future, the SJTU-ParisTech Elite Institute of Technology aims to build on this momentum. The institute is committed to advancing Sino-French educational cooperation, contributing to SJTU’s mission of becoming a comprehensive, research-oriented, and world-class university, and supporting Shanghai’s role as a national leader in change, innovation, and development.
