DRAWING ON GLOBAL RESOURCES Building a network of global links and integrating into the international innovation network are important for us.” Wu Zhaohui, president of Zhejiang University
Collaborations with foreign universities on research projects ranging from tea to chemistry are helping Zhejiang University build on its international reputation. Shi Xiaofeng reports in Hangzhou.
Chinese tea culture study, molecules and chemistry will be the focus of a series of international collaborations by Zhejiang University with some of the world’s prestigious universities.
The plans were released on Saturday during the University Presidents Summit in Hangzhou, the capital city of East China’s Zhejiang province.
Presidents and leaders from more than 110 universities participated, including 30 from abroad, in a celebration of the university’s 120th anniversary.
Established in 1897, Zhejiang University has a long history, rich culture and many academic achievements, with “Seeking Truth and Pursuing Innovation” as its motto.
“Building a network of global links and integrating into the international innovation network are important for us,” said Wu Zhaohui, president of Zhejiang University.
ZJU International Campus (Haining) was launched in September, hosting several joint ventures with overseas educational institutions, including a data science laboratory center with the Imperial College London, and transcampus union colleges with University of Edinburgh and University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign.
Robert J. Jones, chancellor of the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, praised ZJU’s efforts on the project. “The first batch of 30 students has already completed their study,” he said, “and 160 more students will start their life here this autumn. It is encouraging.”
Robert J. Zimmer, president of the University of Chicago, paid his third visit to Hangzhou. “It is impossible for one country to solve problems by itself; one needs to have a global perspective,” he said.
“We have student exchanges and workshop cooperation in chemistry and engineering with ZJU. In addition to that, I hope our American students can learn classical traditions and history from China,” he said.
Ralph J. Hexter, the interim chancellor of UC Davis, says that collaborations between the two universities go back to 1990, expanding to the areas of agriculture, transportation and bioengineering.
UC Davis and ZJU set up a “3+2” program, in which students could study in several fields and end up with an undergraduate degree from ZJU and a master’s degree from UC Davis.
“We are discussing possible collaborations in tea science and tea culture with ZJU now,” Hexter said.
About 3,500 Chinese students are studying at UC Davis today. “It is very important for students to have international experience,” he added.
“To improve the quality of our higher education through internationalization is in line with the current goals of higher education development in the world,” said Song Yonghua, vice-president of the university.
“Nurturing more talents from all walks of life with international vision and global competitiveness is our responsibility.”
Professor Klaus Muhlhahn, vice-president of Freie University Berlin, summarized his impression of Zhejiang University with two phrases: “long history” and “ambitious”.
ZJU has had a great history of innovation since its founding.
It invented a new highspeed videography system (using a series of short flash pulses toward the moving object monitored by computer), the first high-purity silane and polysilicon production plant, the first dual watercooled turbo generator and the first medium-frequency induction-heating power supply.
With more international talents joining its faculty, Zhejiang University has achieved even more in recent years, such as the first suspension 3-D imaging system, the first large digital aircraft assembly line, and the first coal-powered plants with ultra-low emissions.
“With more collaborations with those top universities on research, workshops, students and faculty-exchange programs, we can achieve more,” university president Wu Zhaohui said.