The North American special of Sichuan University Overseas Promotion was held successfully on November 17thand 18th in Toronto, Canada and San Francisco, U. S. A. President Yanrong Li, Vice President Shijing Yan, Yiquan Zhang, Counsellor of education section, Chinese Consulate General in Toronto, Consul Yang Zeng, Consul Guangpeng Li, education section, Chinese Consulate General in San Francisco, and several directors of SCU participated in the promotion. Also, over 180 young talents from Harvard University, Stanford University, University of California, Berkeley, Toronto University, University of Waterloo and research institutes attended this promotion.
In his welcome address, President Yanrong Li talks about two particular things: What kind of university is Sichuan University? Why is Sichuan University the right choice for a career? After a concise introduction of Sichuan University in terms of its history, current development, and future goals, he makes a detailed explanation regarding “Why is SCU the right choice? Give me a sound reason please” from five aspects. With its advantage of disciplinary structure, SCU provides a good opportunity for interdisciplinary development. He also indicates that talents are the bottleneck in the construction of a world first-class university, and SCU needs young talents more than ever before. They are more than welcome to pursue a career in Chengdu, China and use SCU as a platform to realize their dreams.
Counselor Yiquan Zhang and Consul Yang Zeng both point out in their respective speeches that China provides learners doing scientific research with good opportunities of professional growth during its rapid development. They expect that more people can choose SCU and pursue a career in their motherland.
Director of SCU Personnel Department and several subject leaders take turns to explain policies to recruit talents at both the university level and the department level, earnestly inviting talents to SCU.
After in-depth discussions with SCU representatives at the promotion, over 60 young scholars have reached an agreement with SCU to join the university. It is understood that this promotion serves as an important SCU platform to attract talents from across the world. Having the theme of “Seeking talents from across the ocean”, this promotion aims to showcase SCU’s career platform and development opportunities. In the future, SCU will continue to draw upon its disciplinary advantages and reach out to talents more efficiently.
On November 20th, President Yanrong Li and his delegation visited University of Pittsburgh in order to learn about the operation of large comprehensive universities and their interdisciplinary integration practices. At the meeting with Dr. Patrick Gallagher, President of University of Pittsburgh, President Li indicated that the Sichuan University-Pittsburgh Institute has become an example of success in terms of joint programs between universities. SCU’s comprehensive multi-disciplines laid down a foundation for the further expansion of the Sichuan University-Pittsburgh Institute. An in-depth discussion was held between the two parties regarding interdisciplinary integration between medicine and engineering subjects, the management model and their practices in interdisciplinary integration of subjects in the field of information technology. Dr. Gallagher highly complimented the cooperation between University of Pittsburgh and Sichuan University, suggesting a willingness to expand and deepen the exchange and cooperation between the two universities. Dr. Armony, Vice Chancellor of University of Pittsburgh made a keynote speech on the university’s internationalization strategy, operation and management.
On the 20th, Ms. Ann Cudd, Provost and Senior Vice Chancellor of University of Pittsburgh held a lunch banquet to welcome President Yanrong Li and his delegation.Ms. Cudd thanked President Li for choosing University of Pittsburgh as his first American university to visit after he took office. She also made constructive suggestions to further develop the SCU-Pittsburgh Institute.
In the afternoon, President Li’s delegation met with the managerial personnel of School of Medicine. At the meeting, President Li inquired about the mechanism for the integration between engineering subjects and School of Medicine. The delegation visited the Center for Sports Medicine afterwards.
During his time at University of Pittsburgh, President Yanrong Li visited with students from SCU. He encouraged the students to improve and grow professionally and take advantage of the interdisciplinary integration programs of medicine, information technology and other subjects. He also called upon the students to become well-rounded competent college graduates who can better serve the society.
On November 16th, President Yanrong Li and his delegation visited University of Waterloo and had a talk with James Rush, Vice-President Academic and Provost and, Ian Rowlands, Vice President in charge of international affairs at University of Waterloo, and deans from College of Mathematics, College of Environment, College of Arts and College of Applied Health Science.
At the meeting, Dr. Ian Rowlands, Vice President of University of Waterloo, introduced about the construction of their Mathematics and Computer Science as well as the interdisciplinary integration experience. He invited the SCU to visit the AI laboratory and Faculty of Mathematics. President Li pointed out that University of Waterloo did an excellent job in terms of interdisciplinary integration of Computer Science, Statistics, Mathematics and so on. President Li expected that the two universities would carry out substantive cooperation in the fields of exchange of teachers and students as well as scientific research.
During his stay, President Yanrong Li also met with Tao Han, the Chinese Consul General in Toronto. He expressed his thanks to Mr. Han for his help and support.
