UChicago and ZJU strengthen ties

On July 14, a delegation from the University of Chicago, led by Ms. Katie Hrinyak, associate vice president for Global Initiatives & Strategy, and Dr. GE Zening, executive director of UChicago’s Center in Beijing, paid a visit to Zhejiang University to deepen partnership and promote multidisciplinary cooperation between the two institutions.

Warmly welcoming the delegation, Prof. LI Min, director of the Office of Global Engagement at Zhejiang University, highlighted ZJU’s academic prowess, global strategies, and latest advancements. She also reviewed existing cooperation between the two universities, and proposed enhancing collaboration through joint funding mechanism, faculty and student exchanges, partnerships in humanities, social sciences, natural sciences, materials, and medicine.

Commending the fruitful outcomes of the bilateral collaboration, Ms. Katie Hrinyak expressed her belief that universities must remain resolute in fostering communication and cooperation, thereby contributing to talent development, academic progress, and cultural exchange. Looking to the future, she also expressed her eagerness to deepen cooperation on global challenges while fostering bilateral exchanges through academic visits, research internships, and summer schools.

The School of Physics at ZJU, represented by Dean LIN Haiqing and Vice Dean WANG Haohua, showcased its rich history, talented faculty, advanced research platforms, and ongoing international cooperation. Both sides explored the potential areas of collaboration, including but not limited to astronomy, biophysics, and soft matter physics.

During the visit, the UChicago delegation also had engaging discussions with the representative of ZJU’s Morningside Cultural Scholars. The talks revolved around the importance of international communication and academic career development.

In November 2018, ZJU and UChicago officially established an inter-university partnership, fostering collaborations in diverse fields, including molecular engineering, molecular nutrition, sociology, Buddhist art, data science, and medicine. In the past decade, over 200 ZJU students have benefited from short-term exchanges at UChicago through channels like the Data and Policy Summer Scholars Program, the Computer Science Summer Research Program, and Morningside Cultural China Scholars Program. This remarkable cooperation has undoubtedly enriched the educational experiences and global perspectives of these students.