On March 25, the International Campus, Zhejiang University held the 2020 annual meeting in the Campus’ Multifunction Hall. Highlights of Zhejiang University’s annual meeting were conveyed, and the work of the International Campus in 2019 was reviewed and summarized. At the meeting, the key priorities of the International Campus for 2020 were established, focusing on the realization of the “Double First-class” initiative, the compilation of the “14th Five-Year Plan”, the development of the international education cooperation model, epidemic prevention and control, as well as issues related to reform and progress.
Professor He Lianzhen, Vice President of Zhejiang University and Dean of the International Campus, and Professor Fu Qiang, Assistant President of Zhejiang University, Secretary of the Party Working Committee, and Vice Dean of the International Campus, attended the meeting and gave reports.
Professor He reviewed and summarized the work of the International Campus in 2019, and laid out the work plan for 2020 from various perspectives, including improving the talent cultivation model that integrates the advantages of the east and the west; developing team-building; encouraging the expansion of the Institutes through increasing the scale of cooperation, research, and education; planning the Campus scientific research organization. In addition, the Campus should move forward with the construction of the International Joint Innovation Center and strengthen local cooperation and development.
Professor He pointed out that the International Campus, in 2019, had maintained an open attitude to cooperation with other universities and institutions, and focused on the cultivation of talent. The Campus organization and quality of education and research were further improved, achieving gratifying results. She said that the year 2020 marked the end of the ZJU’s “13th Five-Year Plan” and the beginning of the “14th Five-Year Plan”, and was the year that the first goal of ZJU ’s “Three Steps” vision was achieved. It was also a crucial year for the International Campus in its efforts to develop a model of international education cooperation. The entire IC community should work to overcome difficulties and make strenuous efforts towards the further advancement of the International Campus. Professor He emphasized that issues relating to the graduation of the first batch of students, the class of 2020 of the International Campus, had to be well-managed. Furthermore, the undergraduate cultivation plan and curriculum system needed to be optimized.
Professor He pointed out that the International Campus partners had expressed their sympathy and concern over the outbreak of the COVID-19 epidemic earlier in the year. Now, while domestic control of the epidemic situation was stabilizing, the overseas epidemic was spreading rapidly. The Campus and each Institute should show solidarity with our overseas partners and institutions, and offer both material and spiritual help and encouragement.
Professor Fu outlined future plans from three perspectives: striving for the landmark achievements of the “Double First-class” initiative, having a strategic plan for the “14th Five-Year Plan”, and providing strong support for high-quality development. He pointed out that, in 2020, the International Campus was expected to achieve marked results in developing the international education cooperation model. He said that the entire IC community should be more aware of the target, further clarify the model mechanism, design a better key performance evaluation system, enhance collaboration, and successfully implement various other tasks.
In terms of the strategic planning for the “14th Five-Year Plan”, Professor Fu pointed out that it was necessary to be totally clear about the strategy of China and ZJU as they faced a new situation going forward. The strategic direction of the International Campus had to be planned in a forward-looking way, with higher-level goals. In the process of building a word-class university and an international education cooperation model, the International Campus would play a fuller role with a more extensive Campus layout and more distinctive features. Professor Fu said that the key issues, including the cultivation of talents, strategy implementation, innovation, and team-building, needed to be clarified.
Professor Fu emphasized that for high-quality advancement, it was necessary to consolidate the achievements of the CPC education campaign themed “Remain true to our original aspiration and keep our mission firmly in mind”. At the same time, in the current epidemic period, we would fulfill our responsibilities and make overall plans for epidemic prevention and control, while also guaranteeing the Campus’ daily operation and development.
Administrative leaders of ZJE, ZJUI, ZJIBS, and all departments, along with representatives of the faculty, attended the meeting. Professor Ting Kuan Chong, Vice Dean of the International Campus, ZJU, part of faculty and staff members of each Institute and department, and student representatives, attended the meeting online.
Article & Photography: Ping Xia
Translation: Shuaiyin Liu & Roda Morrison