UIUC Chancellor Robert J. Jones led a team to visit the International Campus of Zhejiang University (ZJU) in March. The delegation participated in the Second International Symposium on Higher Education at Zhejiang University. Both universities signed Memoranda of Understanding initiating a new joint research center and establishing doctoral program cooperation. After the symposium, the delegation visited ZJUI for strategic dialogue with the leadership team and coordinators of related disciplines from ZJU, met with faculty and students, and reviewed more than two years of institute operation.

ZJU President Wu Zhaohui and UIUC Chancellor Jones officially opened the ZJUI wing of the Engineering Building on March 4.  Other delegates included ZJU vice-president and international campus dean He Lianzhen, UIUC vice provost Reitumetse Mabokela, standing committee of the party committee member and minister of publicity of ZJU Ying Biao, Assistant President of ZJU, Secretary of the Party Working Committee and Vice Dean of the International Campus Fu Qiang, ZJUI leaders, others from UIUC, and representatives of ZJU. The President and Chancellor marked the start of this new chapter for ZJUI. The two leaders delivered keynote speeches at the symposium.  ZJUI Dean Li Erping and UIUC College of Engineering Dean Rashid Bashir also signed a Letter of Intent to prepare groundwork for masters’ programs.

During the intensive two-day visit, UIUC delegates emphasized to ZJUI faculty and students that “you are an important part of us.” The delegates had in-depth communications with ZJUI faculty members. ZJUI dean Li Erping and executive dean Philip Krein reported on the status of the institute. ZJUI faculty representatives introduced their research areas. Engineering department heads from UIUC shared strategic research directions from each department, welcoming collaboration on global challenges. The delegates discussed how the partners can create favorable conditions for ZJUI faculty, and how UIUC advanced research plans can influence efforts at the institute.

The UIUC delegation met with students on the evening of March 5th. Chancellor Jones and Dean Bashir presented UIUC-style shirts to all the students. Dean Bashir presented dean’s list certificates to many ZJUI students, encouraging them to keep studying hard and become outstanding representatives of both ZJU and UIUC. Dean Bashir and UIUC engineering department heads presented department news and held an intensive discussion session with the students.

Since the establishment of ZJUI three years ago, our commitment has deepened.  The institute intends to keep pioneering and innovating.  ZJUI student-centered programs are committed to breaking through discipline barriers, providing excellent cross-disciplinary education, and addressing crucial real-life challenges. These efforts will help Chinese students obtain world-class international education in China.  The institute further promotes scientific research cooperation and transformative projects.  Challenges at the global, national, and regional levels guide the work.  The opportunities in the Greater Hangzhou Bay Area and the Yangtze River Delta are perhaps the most dynamic in today’s world. The institute will try our best to serve our students and faculty, create an environment for exceptional scholars and innovators, and continue to be in the forefront of Sino-foreign cooperatively - run universities.

The presidents of the two universities signed the MoU

Dean of ZJUI Li Erpng and Dean of college of engineering,UIUC Bashir signed the Letter of intent for cooperative educating master students

ZJUI discussed with heads of the undergraduate and graduate school of ZJU, vice dean of undergraduate and graduate program of UIUC about the education, student affairs, scientific research cooperation and doctoral cooperation.

The UIUC delegation met with ZJUI's faculty, administration team, laboratory engineers and counselors