From 5 to 12 December 2023, Yang Zhenbin, Secretary of the Party Committee of Shanghai Jiao Tong University (SJTU), led a delegation of SJTU to visit three Western European countries, visiting a number of partner universities, scientific research institutes and headquarters of multinational corporations in cities such as Paris, Munich, Leeds, Oxford, London, Coventry, etc., visiting alumni in Paris, Munich, Oxford and London, attending the meeting of the SJTU Paris Academy of Engineering Excellence (PAEE). He attended the meeting of the Joint Management Committee of the Paris School of Engineering Excellence of SJTU.
On the 5th, Yang Zhenbin led the delegation to Paris, attended the 22nd Joint Management Committee Meeting of Paris Institute of Engineer Excellence of SJTU, considered the work report of the Joint Institute and related adjustment issues, and discussed the future development strategy; exchanged views with Jiao Tong University students studying in Paris; visited the Chinese Embassy in France and called on Minister Chen Dong, who expressed his appreciation for the achievements made in the cooperation between Jiao Tong University and China-France in the field of medical education and the cooperation in the field of Engineer Excellence. Chen Dong expressed his appreciation for the achievements of Jiao Tong University's Sino-French cooperation in medical education and excellent engineer education, and expected the university to contribute to the celebration of the 60th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between China and France in 2024.
The 22nd Joint Management Committee Meeting of the Paris School of Engineering Excellence of Shanghai Jiao Tong University (Paris venue)
At noon on the 6th, the delegation visited Technische Universität München and met with Rector Thomas F. Hofmann. Both sides introduced the latest development of their respective schools and hoped to further deepen and expand exchanges and co-operation in various aspects such as talent cultivation, innovation and entrepreneurship on the basis of existing co-operation projects.
The delegation met with Thomas F. Hofmann, President of Technical University of Munich, Germany.
In the afternoon of 6th, the delegation attended the opening ceremony of the Munich base of the German Centre of SJTU. Tong Defa, Consul General of China in Munich, attended the ceremony and delivered a speech. Also attending the ceremony were representatives of universities, institutions and enterprises such as Technical University of Munich, University of Munich, RWTH Aachen University, some German alumni and students of SJTU studying in Germany.
Yang Zhenbin said in his speech that the world is experiencing a great change that has not been seen in a hundred years, the internationalisation of education is facing new challenges and opportunities, and the complex and changing external environment requires more exchanges between universities around the world. SJTU will focus on the work of the German Centre and the Munich Base to push the education and humanities exchanges and cooperation with German universities and universities in other European countries to a new level.
Tong Defa pointed out in his speech that China and Germany, as all-round strategic partners, deepening cooperation in the field of education will not only achieve their own development, but also inject confidence and power into global development. The construction of the German Centre of SJTU and the establishment of the base in Munich will play an exemplary role in promoting the Sino-German educational exchanges and cooperation and show China's determination to insist on opening up to the outside world, especially in education.
Tong Defa and Yang Zhenbin unveiled the plaque for the Munich Base of the German Centre of SJTU
On the 7th, the delegation visited the University of Munich, and the leaders of both sides discussed the scale and field of joint training between the two universities; during the visit to the headquarters of BMW and Siemens AG, the delegation shared with the other side the latest development of the university, the construction of the German Centre and the Munich Base, and the connotation of the strategic development of the "Greater Bay Zero", and BMW and Siemens introduced the company's development strategy and vision, hoping to maintain close communication and seek common development. BMW and Siemens introduced their development strategies and visions, hoping to maintain close communication and seek common development.
During the visit to Fraunhofer Association, both sides had an in-depth discussion on the work of the three innovation platforms jointly established by the two sides; the directors of the five research institutes of Fraunhofer Association also made detailed introductions of their respective research fields and expertise, and put forward suggestions for further expanding and deepening the co-operation and exchanges between the two sides.
Delegation held working talks at Fraunhofer Society
On the 8th, the delegation arrived at the University of Leeds and paid a visit to President Yu Haiyou, both sides reached an agreement on deepening the seed fund project and setting up a joint training programme for managers, and hoped to take this opportunity to promote all-round strategic cooperation.
Yang Zhenbin met with University of Leeds Vice-Chancellor Yu Haiyou
On the 9th and 10th, the delegation also visited the SAIC UK Design Centre and held consultations on further strengthening cooperation in joint training and innovation projects in the future.
On the 11th, the delegation visited the University of Warwick and met with President Stuart Croft. Yang Zhenbin and Stuart Croft signed a joint agreement on the conferment of doctoral degrees between the two universities, and jointly promoted the joint training plus seed fund projects. Stuart Croft also introduced the University of Warwick's excellent results in teaching effectiveness, learning environment and student experience in the recent UK HEI Teaching and Learning Assessment. Yang Zhenbin reviewed the various forms of uninterrupted staff exchanges, innovative teaching co-operation and satisfactory results achieved with the University of Warwick over the past three years. Both sides agreed to comprehensively enhance the co-operation between the two universities.
Yang Zhenbin and Stuart Croft Sign Joint Doctoral Degree Conferral Agreement
On the 12th, the delegation visited the University of Oxford and met with Sir Tim Hitchens, President of Wolfson College, and Martin William, Pro-Vice-Chancellor for Student Affairs of the University of Oxford. Both sides shared and discussed the similarities, differences and trends in student work in higher education around the world, especially in mental health education, the responsibilities of higher education institutions and examples of good practice.
Delegation meets with Martin William, Vice-Chancellor of Oxford University
Yang Zhenbin met with Sir Tom Hitchens, Dean of Wolfson College, University of Oxford
During the university delegation's trip to Europe, the number of universities and research institutes and Chinese and foreign enterprises visited, the types of cooperation agreements and cooperation intentions reached, and the international influence formed all achieved the expected results, laying a more solid foundation for the university to deepen and expand bilateral and multilateral cooperation in the field of global higher education.
Members of the delegation came from International Cooperation and Exchange Office, Alumni Association, Graduate School, Michigan Union College, School of Design, and School of Materials Science and Engineering.