01/17/2025 | News release | Distributed by Public on 01/17/2025 13:52
Stevens signs, discusses multiple agreements with leading Chinese academic institutions for broader collaboration in education programs, student exchange
Recent efforts to engage Chinese institutions of higher learning have produced new memoranda of understanding that create new educational collaborations with leading academic institutions in that nation. These partnerships will begin bringing Chinese students to Stevens' Hoboken campus as soon as this fall.
This increased engagement included a recent 12-day Stevens-delegation trip to China led by President Nariman Farvardin and other top officials.
President Farvardin delivered a lecture on digital communications during the 12-day trip to China"We were extremely pleased to visit and meet with some of China's leading academic lights, experience Chinese culture and sign new educational collaboration agreements," noted President Farvardin afterward. "It is exciting to note that, because of these efforts, increased numbers of talented Chinese students will be studying on campus in Hoboken as soon as next fall."
The trip began in Shanghai with a reception for local alumni and prospective students, followed by a visit to Nanjing University of Finance and Economics (NUFE) - one of China's major business schools. NUFE and Stevens formalized a comprehensive new curricular relationship during the trip, including programs spanning both undergraduate and graduate levels.
"We are very excited about the growth prospects of this collaborative relationship," said Constantin Chassapis, Senior Vice Provost for Graduate Education. "The signing of these agreements is a great start of a journey that promises to become a deep and strong relationship between the two universities."
In Beijing, the delegation met with enthusiastic alumni and prospective students at a well-attended reception. The group also visited Central University of Finance and Economics (CUFE), another of China's top-ranked business schools, to discuss expanded educational partnerships. While in the capital, President Farvardin delivered a keynote lecture at the China Annual Conference & Expo for International Education (CACIE) and visited Tsinghua University, one of the world's top research universities.
"We are enthusiastic about future collaboration, and we will do all in our power to make this partnership successful," noted School of Engineering and Science Dean Jean Zu.
Returning to Shanghai, the delegation met with officials at Shanghai University, one of China's top-ranked institutions, signing agreements for new collaborative programs in engineering and artificial intelligence.
Beyond the delegation's visit, Stevens has also established or renewed partnerships with several other prestigious Chinese institutions:
Xi'an Jiaotong University (XJTU), a premier technology-focused university
Southwest Jiaotong University (SWJTU) in Chengdu
South China University of Technology (SCUT) in Guangzhou
China University of Petroleum (UPC)
"We are always looking to expand upon our strong partnerships in education in China," summarized David Zeng, Senior Vice Provost for Academic Innovation and Faculty Affairs. "Cross-institutional initiatives such as these benefit both the students and the institutions."