In the year 2021, Shanghai Jiao Tong University (SJTU) received multiple international visits from the representatives in China of the United Mexican States (Mexico), the Republic of Poland, Norway, Luxembourg and the United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO), participated in the virtual annual conference and annual Presidents’ Meeting of the Association of Pacific Rim Universities (APRU), and consolidated and deepened SJTU’s international communication at various levels.
On April 16th, Representative and Head of the Regional Office of UNIDO in China Ms. Tonilyn P. Lim and Deputy Representative of the Regional Office of UNIDO in China Ma Jian, along with an entourage, visited the SJTU-UNIDO Joint Institute of Inclusive and Sustainable Industrial Development (ISID Joint Institute), and were received by Vice President of SJTU and Chairman of the ISID Joint Institute Huang Zhen. After getting an understanding of the ISID Joint Institute and its study outcomes, Ms. Lim said that the establishment of the ISID Joint Institute is an important milestone in UNIDO’s cooperation with SJTU and the UNIDO would continue to support the development of the ISID Joint Institute. Going forward, the two sides will carry out comprehensive cooperation in capacity building for effectiveness and investment, green economy, the application of innovative science and technology in industries and the development of young talents, and further explore a strategy for the development of the ISID Joint Institute, industrial technological innovation and industrial transition and upgrading, in a bid to contribute to China’s sustainable industrial development.
On May 26th, Consul General of the Consulate General of Mexico in Shanghai Lorena Larios and Deputy Consul General Carlos Valera visited SJTU School of Humanities. Vice President of SJTU Xu Xuemin expressed her welcome to their visit. Both sides expected to build on this visit to enhance communication and promote academic exchanges and cooperation between SJTU and the top universities and scientific research institutes in Mexico.
On June 16th, Ambassador of the Republic of Poland to China Wojciech Zajączkowski and his entourage paid a visit to SJTU, and met with President of SJTU Lin Zhongqin and Vice President of SJTU Xu Xuemin on the Minhang Campus. The two sides talked about their cooperation between Polish universities and SJTU, and agreed to continue their communication and explore more cooperation in the future.
On September 23rd, Consul General of the Consulate General of Norway in Shanghai Lise Nordgaard and her entourage paid a visit to SJTU, and met with Secretary of the CPC Committee of SJTU Yang Zhenbin on the Minhang Campus. The two sides expected to seize this opportunity to promote communication and cooperation between SJTU and more Norwegian scientific research institutes, universities and businesses and makes concerted efforts to nurture the best talents of global influence and leadership.
On September 30th, Consul General of the Consulate General of Luxembourg in Shanghai Vincent HIEFF and his entourage paid a visit to SJTU, and met with Secretary of the CPC Committee of SJTU Yang Zhenbin on the Minhang Campus. This visit deepened bilateral communication and mutual understanding, and laid groundwork for greater cooperation between SJTU and the universities and scientific research institutes in Luxembourg.
And on August 27th, APRU held the virtual annual conference and annual Presidents’ Meeting. The theme of this annual conference is “Universities Shaping the New Normal Together”. Around 200 participants attended the event remotely, including presidents and the rest of the university leadership as well as heads of international cooperation from 57 APRU members.
President of SJTU Lin Zhongqin delivered a keynote speech on behalf of Chinese universities at the Presidents’ Forum with the theme “Shaping the New Normal of Higher Education”. He said that universities should respond to an increasingly complicated and changing world by striving to help students build their adaptability, resilience as well as awareness and skills of international cooperation, adding that SJTU would like to see APRU playing a bigger role in encouraging its members to jointly build a summer school dedicated to the 2030 Sustainable Development Goals of the United Nations in a concerted effort to nurture students for global competency.
SJTU has taken an active part in various meetings and activities of APRU since it officially joined the association over two years ago. In terms of student development, following APRU’s introduction of the Virtual Student Exchange program to promote international capacity building of students in the context of COVID-19, SJTU contributed excellent English online courses and built on it to put forward its flagship program for student exchanges in the new period: the “SJTU Global Classroom” program. In terms of scientific research, SJTU was invited to join the expert group on Sustainable Cities and Landscapes and the expert group on Sustainable Waste Management within the APRU framework and has been actively expanding cooperation within the association.