Stevens and Shanghai Jiao Tong University sign memo of understanding and cooperation

Stevens Institute of Technology has joined in a memorandum of understanding to establish mutually beneficial links with Shanghai Jiao Tong University (SJTU) in Shanghai, People's Republic of China. This latest link to an educational institution outside the United States is further proof of a new era of global understanding and cooperation for American universities, a reality that Stevens has helped to pioneer.

The educational pact signed by Stevens and SJTU will allow for student and faculty exchanges as well as many opportunities for cooperative projects, particularly in the academic areas that the two institutions have in common. The memo was completed and agreed to January 25, 2002.  Maureen Weatherall, Stevens' Vice President for University Enrollment and Academic Services, and Zhang Shengkun, Vice President of SJTU, signed a joint letter of understanding that begins what both hope is a long relationship with a bright future.

Ronald D. Lorton, Stevens' Director of International Student and Scholar Services, visited the SJTU campus in March 2001 to establish initial face-to-face contacts with university officials.

"The signing with SJTU represents a significant and growing set of global relationships with key high-quality institutions," says Lorton. "There is a synergy in programmatic and scholarly interests between Stevens and Shanghai Jiao Tong University. Obviously, there are benefits for all involved. For Stevens, these linkages have the potential of increasing our pool of excellent student applicants, among many other important advantages."

Founded at the dawn of the 20th century, Shanghai Jiao Tong University now boasts a student population of 15,350 undergraduates and 6,770 master's and doctoral candidates. Its facilities now occupy five campuses. SJTU has long been actively involved in international exchange and cooperation in the fields of education and scientific and technological research. To date, SJTU has established cooperative relationships with 80 universities abroad and many foreign research establishments and corporations.

The university professorate numbers 1,300 full and associate professors, including three Nobel laureates in physics: Yang Zhenning, Li Zhengdao and Ding Zaozhong. Famous alumni include Jiang Zhemin, president of the People's Republic of China.

For complete information about SJTU, please visit its website at www.sjtu.edu.cn/english.

About Stevens Institute of Technology

Founded in 1870, Stevens Institute of Technology is one of the leading technological universities in the world dedicated to learning and research. Through its broad-based curricula, nurturing of creative inventiveness, and cross disciplinary research, the Institute is at the forefront of global challenges in engineering, science, and technology management. Partnerships and collaboration between, and among, business, industry, government and other universities contribute to the enriched environment of the Institute. A new model for technology commercialization in academe, known as Technogenesis®, involves external partners in launching business enterprises to create broad opportunities and shared value.

Stevens offers baccalaureates, master’s and doctoral degrees in engineering, science, computer science and management, in addition to a baccalaureate degree in the humanities and liberal arts, and in business and technology. The university has a total enrollment of 2,150 undergraduate and 3,500 graduate students, with about 250 full-time faculty. Stevens’ graduate programs have attracted international participation from China, India, Southeast Asia, Europe and Latin America. Additional information may be obtained from its web page at www.stevens.edu.  

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