SJTU Leaders Attend the 18th Venice Architecture Biennale, and Visit European Universities and Enterprises
From May 18th to 22nd, 2023, President Ding Kuiling and former President Lin Zhongqin of Shanghai Jiao Tong University led a delegation to visit Italy and Switzerland. They were invited to attend the 18th Venice Architecture Biennale and visited the University of Venice, ETH Zurich (Swiss Federal Institute of Technology), and Winterthur Gas & Diesel Ltd. (Zurich). The purpose of the visit was to promote exchanges and cooperation in education and research between Shanghai Jiao Tong University and top European universities and companies. Additionally, the delegation visited the Sino-European Business School's Zurich campus and attended the 2023 Annual Meeting and Council Election of the SJTU Swiss Alumni Association, engaging in warm exchanges with alumni in the Swiss region.
On the 18th, the delegation visited the University of Venice, where they met with the President, Benno Albrecht, Vice President for International Affairs, Angelo Maggi, and the Dean of the Graduate School, Maria Chiara Tosi. They also signed a memorandum of understanding on student exchange and cooperation between the two universities. The University of Venice and Shanghai Jiao Tong University have a solid foundation of collaboration in the field of architectural design. This includes joint initiatives such as the Erasmus+ staff exchange program, co-curated exhibitions, and the organization of forums on architectural heritage restoration. Both parties agreed to further deepen the existing collaboration and explore opportunities for dual degrees and the establishment of joint research platforms.
From the 19th to the 20th, Ding Kuiling and the delegation attended the curator's tour and theme forum of the Chinese National Pavilion at the 18th Venice International Architecture Biennale. President Ding Kuiling delivered a speech, extending a warm welcome to the guests attending the event on behalf of the university. He emphasized that Shanghai Jiao Tong University would take this opportunity of curating the Chinese National Pavilion to tell compelling Chinese stories and showcase the charm of China. The university will continue to focus on urban governance and sustainable development, contributing to making cities healthier, safer, and more livable.
Prominent experts and scholars, as well as influential figures from the industry, participated in the event. This included Tiziana Lippiello, the President of the University of Venice; Angelo Maggi, the Vice President of the University of Venice; Ilaria Valente, the Vice President of Politecnico di Milano; Michele Bonino, the Vice President of Politecnico di Torino; Sarah Whiting, the Dean of the Harvard Graduate School of Design; Jean-Louis Cohen, the Sheldon H. Solow Professor of Architectural History at New York University; Li Xiangning, the Dean of the School of Architecture and Urban Planning at Tongji University and curator of the 16th Chinese National Pavilion; and Philip Ursprung, a professor at ETH Zurich and curator of the 18th Swiss National Pavilion.
On the morning of the 21st, the delegation visited the Zurich campus of the Sino-European International Business School (CEIBS). They met with Eric Cornuel, a board member of the school; Dominique Turpin, the European Dean; Bala Ramasamy, the Deputy Provost; and Robert Straw, the CEO of the Zurich campus. During the meeting, they discussed the school's future development plans, explored strategies to effectively expand overseas enrollment, strengthen educational capabilities, and further enhance international influence.
In the afternoon, the delegation had a cordial meeting with Shanghai Jiao Tong University's alumni in Switzerland and attended the 2023 Annual Meeting and Council Election of the SJTU Swiss Alumni Association. President Ding Kuiling introduced the recent developments and future construction plans of their alma mater to the attending alumni. He encouraged the alumni in Switzerland to uphold the spirit of seeking truth and pragmatism, and to make continuous progress in their studies and work, contributing their efforts as SJTU alumni to drive social progress.
On the morning of the 22nd, the delegation visited Winterthur Gas and Diesel (WinGD) in Zurich and met with CEO Klaus Heim and Director of Digital Transformation and Technology, Peter Krähenbühl. Klaus Heim briefed the delegation on the overall development and research and development efforts of the company, as well as typical cases of collaboration with global universities. Both parties agreed to actively explore the possibility of establishing an overseas research internship platform for Shanghai Jiao Tong University students, building upon the existing foundation of deepening research collaboration.
In the afternoon of the 22nd, the delegation visited ETH Zurich and had a meeting with President Joël Mesot, Director of the Office of International Affairs Anders Hagström, and others. The two universities have maintained exchanges and collaborations in fields such as biomedical engineering, civil engineering, and materials science. The joint summer school organized by both institutions has been highly praised by students and faculty from both sides. Both parties agreed to deepen the existing collaborative projects and explore a roadmap for joint training and research in disciplines such as physics, chemistry, and biology. After the meeting, the delegation also visited the Perception-Motion Systems Laboratory in the Department of Health Sciences and Technology, as well as the Wind Tunnel Laboratory in the Department of Fluid Dynamics at ETH Zurich.
Representatives from the Office of International Cooperation and Exchange, School of Design, School of Naval Architecture, Ocean, and Civil Engineering, and the Alumni Association Office also accompanied the delegation on the visit.