ZJU delegation strengthen ties with top North American institutions

From October 14th to 20th, a delegation, led by Prof. REN Shaobo, chairman of the University Council, embarked on a strategic visit to several leading institutions in the US and Canada. This marked Zhejiang University's first multi-disciplinary delegation visit to North America since the outbreak of the pandemic.

Enhanced collaborations with US universities

On October 16th, Chairman Ren and his team visited the University of California, San Francisco (UCSF), engaging in initial discussions with Chancellor Sam Hawgood and the faculty representatives. Specialists from UCSF’s Cardiovascular Research Institute, Department of Biochemistry and Biophysics, and Neuroscience Graduate Program shared insights into doctoral training and research initiatives. Talks centered on bolstering medical education and research, with proposals to kickstart scholar and student exchanges to jointly contribute to public health and well-being.

The following day, the delegation continued to the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA) for fruitful talks with Executive Vice Chancellor and Provost Darnell Hunt, Vice Provost C. Cindy Fan and heads of the relevant UCLA’s schools. Both parties reflected on a decade of medical collaboration, aspiring to harness their interdisciplinary strengths to enhance cooperation in psychology, sociology, and other fields. The day culminated with the signing of a clinical internship agreement between the medical schools of both universities, with Chairman Ren and Provost Hunt as witnesses.  

On the 19th, the delegation visited the Massachusetts General Hospital, where they met with Marcela del Carmen, president of Massachusetts General Physicians Organization, Misty Hathaway, vice president of Massachusetts General Hospital, and Aaron Gerber, senior vice president of Mass General Brigham. During the visit, they witnessed signing of a second-phase cooperation agreement between the Second Affiliated Hospital of Zhejiang University School of Medicine and Mass General Brigham, underscoring the continued commitment between the two prestigious institutions.  

Furthering ties with Canadian institutions

On the 20th, the delegation visited the University of Toronto in Canada, meeting with Vice President Leah Cowen, Associate Vice President Alex Mihailidis and heads of the related departments. The dialogue underscored the value of cross-disciplinary, international partnerships in addressing global challenges. Both reached consensus on renewing the university-level cooperation agreement, initiating the second phase of the seed funding project, and expanding cooperation in pediatrics and dentistry. After the meeting, Chairman Ren witnessed the signing of the dual master's program agreement between the Department of Psychology and Behavioral Sciences at Zhejiang University and the Ontario Institute for Studies in Education at the University of Toronto, a testament to the growing educational bonds between the two institutions.   

Engaging with the Alumni

While in the US, Chairman Ren attended the 47th North America Zhejiang University Alumni Convention in Seattle, addressing over 200 alumni representatives. He acknowledged the pivotal role alumni play in university advancement and urged continued support for its global initiatives. Additionally, the delegation held enriching interactions with alumni in Los Angeles, Boston, and Toronto, reminiscing about their shared ties and discussing future developments. 

Joining this impactful visit were ZJU's Vice President LI Xiaoming and senior representatives from various university departments and affiliated hospitals. Vice President HUANG Xianhai participated in alumni events during the visit.