The 19th University of Michigan-Shanghai Jiao Tong University Joint Institute (UM-SJTU JI) board meeting was held at SJTU and UM simultaneously via teleconference on December 12. The SJTU attendees included Sixian Jiang, Chairman of the SJTU Council, SJTU President Zhang Jie, SJTU Vice Presidents Zheng Huang and Xuemin Xu. In Ann Arbor, UM attendees included President Mark Schlissel, Jack Hu, Vice President for Research, James Holloway, Vice Provost for Global Engagement and Interdisciplinary Academic Affairs, Alec Gallimore, Dean of School Engineering, M.S. Krishnan, Associate Dean of Executive Education and Global Initiatives, and Jun Ni, JI Honorary Dean. President Zhang officiated.
Professor Gregory Hulbert of the UM Faculty of Engineering first presented to the Board the “Global Multidisciplinary Design Project,” which was launched in collaboration with the UM- SJTU Joint Institute for the first time this fall semester. The project was participated in by senior engineering students from JI and UM. They worked as a team in collaboration with the sponsors both on site and remotely in Shanghai and Ann Arbor, USA. The project aims to foster students’ teamwork and practical skills in a cross-cultural, interdisciplinary and industrial setting. The first phase of the project sponsored by the General Motors Corporation has provided students in the United States and in China with technical guidance in practical experience and training required for qualified engineers.
Dean Peisen Huang gave a detailed report on JI’s current status. In August 2016, both of JI’s undergraduate engineering programs, mechanical engineering (ME) and electrical & computer engineering (ECE), achieved ABET (Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology) accreditation. Over the past year, JI has increased the number and quality of enrolled students and created more international opportunities for students. More than 70% of senior students have international travel experiences. At the same time, JI spares no effort to create better education resources for students through hiring high-quality teachers and enhancing the level of scientific research.
At the meeting, the two sides discussed topics on JI’s future development. JI will continue promoting international collaboration to achieve the target of equal numbers of international and domestic students within ten years. In scientific research, JI will work with UM to build a joint laboratory on smart systems, solicit government supports and collaborate with relevant enterprises in scientific research and student training.
In addition, the board unanimously approved the tenure promotion of Professor Mian Li and the appointment as APG member for David Hung, JI’s new Associate Dean for Graduate Education.
Closing the meeting, UM President Mark Schlissel remarked that, as a model of Sino-American education collaboration, JI has made remarkable achievements in the past ten years and has recently made breakthroughs in the appointment of tenured faculty members. He hopes JI will continue to strengthen teaching and scientific research to meet future challenges and opportunities through further cooperation between the two schools.
Chairman Sixian Jiang recognized JI’s new progress. He stressed that achieving ABET accreditation is not only the proof of JI’s quality, but also a boost to SJTU’s international development. More than 50% of JI’s graduates have been admitted to the top 20 engineering schools in the United States, of which close to half have entered the University of Michigan, which is impossible without the collaboration between the two universities. This year is SJTU’s 120th anniversary and next year will mark the UM’s 200th anniversary. He hopes the two schools will continue to work together for JI’s next brilliant decade.
