On the sidelines of the APRU Sustainable Cities and Landscapes Conference, hosted by Shanghai Jiao Tong University (SJTU), an APRU delegation led by Thomas Schneider, Chief Executive, conducted leadership visits to Shanghai Jiao Tong University and Tongji University on May 21–22. The delegation also included Joey Chu, Senior Manager, Events, and Benjamin Zhou, Manager, Programs.
Celebrating 130 Years of Shanghai Jiao Tong University
On May 22, the APRU delegation met with senior leadership at Shanghai Jiao Tong University at its Minhang Campus. The meeting was hosted by Ding Kuiling, President of SJTU, and Liu Weidong, Vice President, alongside representatives from the Division of Global Cooperation and Exchange, the School of Design, and the China–UK Low Carbon College.
President Ding welcomed the delegation and highlighted that 2026 marks the 130th anniversary of SJTU, noting the university’s evolution from an engineering‑focused academy into a comprehensive, innovative, and internationally engaged institution. He emphasized the value of multilateral platforms such as APRU in enabling universities to collaborate more effectively amid global geopolitical uncertainty and expressed SJTU’s interest in deepening engagement across APRU initiatives, including APRU’s work on solving Asia-Pacific challenges.
Thomas Schneider thanked SJTU for its long‑standing and active participation in APRU. He underscored APRU’s strategic focus on generating tangible impact through collaboration, expanding student development opportunities, and sustaining dialogue across diverse contexts in a rapidly changing global environment. He encouraged SJTU to further engage in APRU working groups and extended invitations to participate in upcoming APRU leadership forums.
Both sides agreed on the importance of leveraging APRU as a platform to advance interdisciplinary research collaboration, particularly in areas addressing regional and global challenges such as sustainability and climate action.
A warm welcome and vibrant exchange at Tongji University, shaping future collaboration
The APRU delegation also visited Tongji University, where they met with President Yang Jinlong and senior leadership, including Vice President Lyu Peiming and representatives from the International Affairs Office, School of Medicine, College of Environmental Science and Engineering, and College of Ocean and Earth Science.
President Yang outlined Tongji University’s strong institutional focus on environmental sustainability, data science and artificial intelligence, design and architecture, and the digital humanities. He highlighted the strategic importance of APRU’s multilateral platforms, particularly the Annual Presidents’ Meeting (APM), Vice Presidents’ Research Meeting (VPRM), and Senior International Leaders’ Meeting (SILM), in advancing international collaboration, and expressed Tongji’s commitment to expanding its engagement with APRU following its relatively recent membership.
Vice President Lyu Peiming shared Tongji’s commitment to research and collaboration in sustainability. Discussions also explored opportunities for long‑term student exchange, APRU student programs, and potential collaboration in areas such as smart cities, population aging, health and medical education, and marine and ocean sciences.
The meeting also noted Tongji University’s upcoming 120th anniversary in 2027, opening excellent opportunities for collaboration.
Advancing APRU’s mission in the Pacific Rim
The leadership visits to Shanghai Jiao Tong University and Tongji University underscored APRU’s commitment to strengthening institutional partnerships in China and across the Pacific Rim. Through sustained dialogue, shared priorities, and collaborative platforms, APRU continues to support its member universities in addressing pressing global challenges through research, education, and innovation.