2016 is a landmark year for the University of Michigan- Shanghai Jiao Tong University Joint Institute (UM-SJTU JI). After a decade of striving, JI has reaped a bumper crop and laid a solid foundation for the next decade.
As we embark on 2017, let us recall JI’s glorious moments in the past year.
In February, two JI teams of sophomores stood out among the 150 teams from around the world and won the bronze medal of the sixth University Physics Competition. Their paper on Terraforming Mars involved interdisciplinary knowledge from multiple areas of physics and showed excellent quantitative modeling techniques.
On April 10, 2016, JI celebrated her tenth anniversary with a series of commemorative events. The VIP-studded celebration ceremony was held at the Chen Ruiqiu Auditorium. Distinguished attendees included Jiang Sixian, Chairman of SJTU Council, SJTU President Zhang Jie, Ma Dexiu, former Chairperson of SJTU Council, Shengwu Xie, former SJTU President, James Holloway, UM Vice Provost for Global and Engaged Education, Zongqin Lin, SJTU Executive Vice President, Xuemin Xu, SJTU Vice President, John Wu, founder and Chairman of H&F Fund Management Group, and his wife, Jane Sun, Co-president of Ctrip.com, Mr. and Mrs. Yu Liming, President of Zhejiang Liming Engine Parts, Co., Jun Ni, JI Honorary Dean, Peisen Huang, JI Dean. The auditorium was packed with JI students, faculty, staff and alumni, SJTU officials, guests from the industry and journalists.
On the same day, an International Symposium on Global Education was held at SJTU, attended by nearly 100 academic leaders and professionals from international communities with various experiences and cross-disciplinary expertise. The scholars reflected upon global education issues and discussed multiple strategies for fostering the next generation of innovative global leaders.
In May, results showed that JI performed remarkably in the 2016 Mathematical Contest in Modeling/ Interdisciplinary Contest in Modeling (MCM/ICM) , with six teams winning Meritorious Award (first prize）and five teams winning Honorable Mention（second prize). JI student Wenhao Peng’s team was a finalist for the grand prize.
In May, a research team led by JI assistant professor Wenjie Wan published a paper titled Optically induced transparency in a micro-cavity in “Light: Science & Applications,” a top international journal.
The World Final of the 37th Odyssey of the Mind (OM) was held at Iowa State University from May 25 to 29. The SJTU team, composed of three JI students, performed brilliantly and won the third prize in the classics category of the collegiate division.
JI’s semi-annual Design Expos were held on August 11 and December 14. The exhibition showcased 125 projects of JI’s various experimental courses from freshman through senior year, “Undergraduate Research Projects,” and “Global Interdisciplinary Design Project. ” It depicts JI undergraduate students’ accomplishments in research and innovative practice.
In August, both of JI’s undergraduate engineering programs, mechanical engineering (ME) and electrical & computer engineering (ECE), achieved ABET (Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology) accreditation. ABET accreditation is one of the world’s most authoritative accreditation in the field of applied science, computing, engineering and engineering technology.
On the occasion of Michigan Governor Rick Snyder’s visit to SJTU on November 12, JI and the University of Michigan’s Ross School of Business jointly announced the launch of the Automotive Executive Development Program. The program aims to help promote China’s automotive industry and smart car development by inviting renowned professors and scholars to provide innovative ideas, insights and practical guidance to Chinese automotive executives in strategic planning, future business trends, organization and management models and consumer research.
In December, the JI Nanophotonics Research team led by Professor Tian Yang published a paper titled “Reproducible Ultrahigh SERS Enhancement in Single Deterministic Hotspots Using Nanosphere-Plane Antennas Under Radially Polarized Excitation” in “Scientific Reports,” a journal of the Nature Publishing Group.
In 2017, JI will continue to build a world-class teaching and research institute with the core concepts of “Internationalization, Interdisciplinarity, Innovation and Quality” and become a base for training global leaders. Let us wait and see!
