Nominees for the People of Distinction | ZHOU Jie: To Serve the Faculty and Students, to Shape the TNE Joint Institute Pacesetter

ZHOU Jie is Assistant Dean and director of the Office of Administration of the Zhejiang University-University of Edinburgh Institute (ZJE). Since joining iZJU in Jan. 2018, Zhou has consistently maintained her philosophy of serving the growth and development of both faculty and students. She has worked closely with leaders and the administrative team to develop an operational system that is appropriate for the needs of collaborative educational programs while refining a talent development model that integrates the strengths of both the Chinese and British systems and proactively builds the infrastructure and resources necessary for faculty development. Her actions provide strong support for ZJE’s high-standard collaborative education programs, high-quality talent development, and high-level academic output.

Fostering Sino-foreign liaisons, serving as a bridge for collaborative education programs

After receiving her Ph.D. in 2010 from the University of Paris XIII, Zhou worked at the French National Institute of Health and Medical Research and then at the College of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Zhejiang University. Her extensive experience in international education and her experience of working in different countries have provided her with a deeper understanding of both Chinese and Western cultures and educational philosophies while also giving her a profound recognition of collaborative education. This has encouraged her to dedicate herself fully to Sino-foreign cooperation. Since joining iZJU, she has maintained more than twice weekly communications with the University of Edinburgh, overcoming the time difference and effectively collaborating and contributing to milestones in the development of ZJE.

In 2020, ZJE began developing an international single-degree graduate program. Beginning at the conceptual stage, Zhou integrated the University of Edinburgh's graduate training model, refining the curriculum step by step, optimizing the financial model, and launching recruitment campaigns. Her efforts led to the welcoming of the first batch of students in September 2021, establishing a precedent at the University of Edinburgh for awarding graduate degrees entirely through overseas training while also providing valuable insights from the graduate training systems of top international universities.

Zhou carried out extensive research and planning to develop a dual-degree doctoral program with a student-nurturing system that met the standards of both institutions across all phases, including course supervision, mid-term evaluations, and dissertation defense. This program has become a national benchmark for dual-degree doctoral training and has received support from the 'Bofei' Initiative, an innovative international talent development program established by the China Scholarship Council.

With her deep understanding of collaborative education and strong sense of responsibility, Zhou consistently reviews ZJE's operational progress, facilitating the renewal of partnership agreements and managing changes required by the Department of Education. She also ensures compliance with faculty teaching hours at the University of Edinburgh, safeguarding ZJE's rapid development while keeping it on a positive track. Since its establishment, ZJE has earned the Zhejiang Provincial Teaching Achievement Award (Second Prize), has been featured as an exemplary case of Sino-foreign collaborative education institutions nationwide, and has established itself as one of the leading Sino-foreign collaborative education institutions in the country. ZJE also received the China-UK Annual Best Educational Partnership Award. These accomplishments not only highlight the dedication of the ZJE management team but also highlight Zhou’s critical role as a bridge for Sino-foreign communication and as a central figure in ZJE’s operations.

Establishing systems and following regulations in becoming a driving force in talent development

When Zhou joined iZJU, ZJE was at a critical point as the first batch of students entered the latter stages of their studies. Drawing on her strong teaching expertise at Zhejiang University and integrating the management practices of the University of Edinburgh, she took responsibility for drafting and finalizing over 20 key undergraduate teaching management documents, including the ‘Academic Regulations’ and ‘Course Handbook,’ establishing an educational model that combined the strengths of both universities. In the day-to-day management of education and teaching operations, Zhou ensured the efficient organization and execution of academic meetings at all levels and effectively implemented their decisions.

Besides building a solid foundation for the teaching management system, Zhou also carefully established the connection between undergraduate academic affairs and student affairs. She meticulously set up an academic “early warning” mechanism for undergraduates who are struggling academically. She collaborates with the institute, students, and their families to carry out targeted and efficient support, communications, and psychological counseling, striving to fundamentally solve students' academic problems. As the assistant dean in charge of graduate affairs, Zhou paid close attention to the subtle advisor-advisee relationship. She not only standardized the requirements for student mentorship but also actively listened to the voices and needs of graduate students, providing them with a safe and open platform to help them overcome academic challenges. In doing so, she provided invaluable support for their growth. Through the collective efforts of the team, the quality of the collaborative program gained recognition from international partners, with every one of the students obtaining partnering universities' degree certificates and a higher proportion of master's students earning first-class honors compared to those in the University of Edinburgh's local programs.

Together with her team, Zhou completed the renovation of the ZJE Research Building, designing international-standard laboratories to provide the necessary infrastructure for the faculty to conduct academic research. She actively fundraised, successfully securing funding for the ‘Improvement of Basic Educational Conditions’ four consecutive times and continually updating laboratory facilities. In line with ZJE's development, she optimized the layout of the Research Building's laboratories, established a laboratory space management system, and improved space utilization efficiency. She collaborated with ZJE leaders to define the roles and responsibilities of laboratory technicians, connecting undergraduate experimental teaching with public technical platforms and thus providing first-class research and technical services for faculty and students. Working closely with the University of Edinburgh’s team, she established a dual-standard laboratory safety management and an animal welfare ethics management system, both of which received recognition from Zhejiang University’s relevant departments.

The dancer who controls the rhythm

Zhou holds different roles for different people. She is "Sister Zhou" to graduate students, always ready to help them overcome difficulties; "Director Zhou" in the office, leading her team with courage and responsibility; "Principal Zhou" to the faculty, providing comprehensive support to both Chinese and international staff. She is also a loving and dedicated mother, returning to Hangzhou almost every workday to spend time with her daughter, traveling 160,000 kilometers over seven years. However, her favorite identity is that of a flamenco dancer. Dancing not only restores her energy but also shapes her understanding of team management. As she says, "The ZJE Administration Office encompasses all the support services and management needed for the institute's operation, with numerous tasks that require focus on coordination and rhythm, just as in dancing, where it's essential to coordinate the body and maintain the right tempo."

Zhou introduced the “Big Comprehensive Model with Specialized Programs” management support model at ZJE, establishing workgroups for academic affairs, student affairs, and research support. These teams collaborate efficiently, handling tasks such as admissions, accreditation, and development while consistently providing support for faculty and staff growth. Zhou is dedicated to staff development, rotating young leaders through different departments to strengthen ties with ZJU’s other campuses and the medical school. She also organizes lunch forums for management staff to enhance their skills and regularly sends staff for specialized training at the University of Edinburgh, promoting collaboration between their respective teams. In 2024, the ZJE Office of Administration team won the Best Team Award at the University of Edinburgh's School of Medicine and Veterinary Medicine's Annual Staff Recognition Awards, recognizing Zhou’s team's contributions to the development of Sino-foreign cooperative education.

Managing a Sino-foreign cooperative education institute comes with challenges, including cultural differences, time zone issues, and misunderstandings about rules. However, resolving problems with colleagues from the University of Edinburgh, receiving flowers from graduate students, and celebrating faculty achievements bring joy. These moments are what motivate Zhou to keep moving forward. "I’m just one member of the team. The key to the institute's growth is teamwork," she says. "It's an honor to be part of this exciting and pioneering work, and I look forward to further contributing to the development of the Campus."