To further promote the international strategy of our university, hosted by Academic Affairs Department, the First Session of Shanghai University International Education Forum was held successfully in the library’s lecture hall on Baoshan campus on June 21. Over 400 people attended this forum, including: Fu Jianqin, vice director of higher education division, Shanghai Municipal Education Commission, leaders of academic affairs in other universities such as Shanghai University of Finance and Economics, East China University of Political Science and Law, University of Shanghai for Science and Technology and Shanghai Normal University, academic deans in from different colleges, core teachers, students and media staff. Other attendees are 80 foreign professors of world famous universities like Yale University, University of California, Duke University, and University of Washington and so on. They will deliver lecture to our freshmen in English including Economic Management, Humanities and Social Sciences, Media Arts, and Science and Engineering for thousands of freshmen during the short semester.

    The one day forum is arranged in a new way. Integrated with the theme— “Science, Arts, and Responsibility”, the forum fully embodies general educational essence of our university.

    Sentimental prelude—My Deskmate unveiled the forum with poem, music and film of Shanghai University’s history. The melody conveying immature campus life was played with Chinese lute and west piano by two young female teachers of School of Music which showed the integration of music and culture of China and the Western, and also reflected the idea of international course week. Professor Wan Wanggen, dean of Academic Affairs Department declared the opening of the forum and introduced specific arrangements of the forum.  

     At the beginning, Luo hongjie, president of Shanghai University gave the welcoming remarks and delivered a passionate speech, which introduced four strategies of Shanghai University, especially emphasized the important role of international strategy in the development of our university. Then, Ye Zhiming, vice president of SHU elaborated the history and current situation of Shanghai University with presentation files, especially the exploration in educational reform and process of educational internationalization, including Cooperative Education with overseas universities, Overseas Visit Studies, Summer Schools, and overseas internship projects. He also expressed his good wish that the competence of our professors and students absorbing overseas advanced teaching and learning could be enhanced and the international strategy could be carried out successfully through this international short term activity.

    The first keynote speech, “Why should we develop students’ cross-culture competence”, was given by Professor Bruno Ciancio, director of cross-culture study of the University of Modana, Italy. Then comes the “Academic research: not that difficult as you imagine”. The last speaker, Professor Chen Jianfu, scholar of Law School of Australia, showed his perspectives on “Legal Education: Idea and Concept”.

     In the afternoon, the graceful melody of Olive Tree unveiled the prelude of the second half of the forum. The first keynote speech by Professor William C.Summers from Yale University introduced the principles of general education of Yale University and specific details. The other speaker was Professor Lars G. Björk of education study from University of Kentucky. The theme was “Organizational leadership in education reconstruction”.
   
    Coffee break was another networking platform for guests and students. During the coffee break, students have learned a lot about etiquettes concerning foreign affairs. And they took the chance to discuss about the speeches. 

    The interaction came after the graceful melody of The White Birch Forest by Chinese Pipa and piano. The screen rolled about a series of scenes of our university students’ engagement in study and braveness in applying for jobs. Deputy dean of Foreign Language School, Zhuang Enping invited five foreign speakers to have a talk on the rostrum. Professor Zhuang put forward several questions according to the five professors’ keynote speeches, such as how professors overseas promote teaching through academic researches, how undergraduates engage in professors’ research projects, how to motivate professors to offer courses for undergraduates, undergraduates’ overseas experiences, overseas professors’ promotion, the popularity of general education among overseas students, as well as undergraduates’ training in creation and critical thinking. All the five professors gave the audience elaborated answers. Furthermore, overseas professors and students also had warm interaction on these questions.

    The forum closed with joyful songs and dances of our university’s overseas students. No matter the one day forum or the two-week “Internationalized Short Term Courses”, Shanghai University is preparing a platform for local teachers and students engaging in overseas universities’ academic atmosphere and unique teaching style. And the teaching of the professors from overseas famous universities is sure to play an important role in deepening and promoting educational reform.