On the afternoon of August 20, Gao Feng, Secretary of the CPC Zaozhuang University Committee, and Cong Hailin, Deputy Secretary of the CPC Zaozhuang University Committee and president of Zaozhuang University, led a delegation to the Minhang Campus of Shanghai Jiao Tong University (SJTU) for an exchange visit.

Xi Lifeng, Member of the CPC SJTU Committee and executive vice president, warmly received the delegation and attended the meeting. The two sides held in-depth discussions on strengthening cooperation in discipline development, talent recruitment and development, tackling key research challenges, and social service. SJTU responded to each of Zaozhuang University’s requests for assistance, and both sides reached consensus on targeted assistance and province–university collaboration.

Also attending the meeting were Feng Lei, Deputy Secretary of the CPC Zaozhuang University Committee; Yuan Junxian, Member of the CPC Zaozhuang University Committee and director of the Organization Department; along with relevant representatives from Shanghai SmartState Technology Co., Ltd.

Before the meeting, Gao Feng and his delegation visited SJTU’s University History Museum and Student Innovation Center. They gained a detailed understanding of the university’s history spanning more than a century, achievements in discipline development, talent development models, and scientific and technological innovation. They also studied its advanced experience in industry–education integration and innovation and entrepreneurship education, gaining firsthand insight into the rich institutional heritage and vitality of one of China’s leading universities.

At the meeting, Gao Feng expressed his gratitude on behalf of Zaozhuang University for the warm reception extended by SJTU. He provided a comprehensive introduction to Zaozhuang’s historical and cultural heritage, its strategic plan for “strengthening industry, revitalizing the industrial sector and advancing transformation and development,” as well as Zaozhuang University’s current development priorities, its “Two Upgrades and One Initiative” agenda, and its development plan for the 15th Five-Year Plan period (2026–2030).

He stated that SJTU is a benchmark institution in China’s higher education sector and has achieved outstanding results in talent development, scientific research, and social service.

Zaozhuang University is currently at a critical stage of development and urgently needs guidance and assistance from a first-class university. He hoped that this exchange would serve as a starting point for establishing a long-term cooperation mechanism, helping Zaozhuang University improve its overall educational level and quality of development so that it can better serve high-quality regional economic and social development.

Focusing on discipline development, Cong Hailin provided a detailed and practical account of the university’s progress and areas requiring improvement. He presented specific requests for cooperation in six areas: preparation for applying for authorization to confer doctoral degrees, talent recruitment and development, advancing key research initiatives, platform development, social service, and industry–education integration. He expressed the hope that SJTU would leverage its strengths in disciplines, talent, and research platforms to provide Zaozhuang University with systematic guidance and targeted support.

Xi Lifeng welcomed the delegation from Zaozhuang University and acknowledged the university’s commitment to its application-oriented educational orientation and its achievements in serving regional development.

He stated that SJTU would actively respond to the development needs of local universities, address each of Zaozhuang University’s requests for assistance, and provide full support. By fully leveraging its educational resources, SJTU would undertake practical cooperation with Zaozhuang University in discipline development, talent development, and scientific and technological innovation, thereby promoting complementary strengths and mutually beneficial development.

During the meeting, Ling Weiguo, Chairman of SmartState, stated that the company would continue to deepen its strategic industry–university–research cooperation with Zaozhuang University. It would fully leverage its role as a bridge between academia and industry, facilitate the precise alignment of SJTU’s technological and human resources with the needs of industries in Zaozhuang, and help ensure that the trilateral collaboration produces tangible results.

The two sides held detailed discussions and consultations on four core areas: preparation for doctoral degree authorization, talent recruitment and development, tackling key research challenges, and social service, and clarified the priorities and implementation pathways for future cooperation.

Officials from the relevant administrative departments and schools of both universities participated in the event.

Text and photos: Office of Cooperation and Development

Editor: Ge Xiaoxia

Reviewer: Yan Xin