The Sino-Italian University Presidents' Dialogue was held at Peking University on the morning of November 9th. This convention was jointly organized by the Ministry of Education of the People’s Republic of China and the Italian Ministry for Universities and Research (MUR), where two parallel forums were established under the theme of “Promoting Mutual Learning Among Civilizations and Cultivating Outstanding Talents”. Representatives from nearly 50 colleges and universities in Italy and China attended to discuss the collaboration of higher education, collaborated innovation, and cultivation modes for high-level talents. CUC President Zhang Shuting attended the dialogue and delivered a keynote report at the parallel forum titled Civilization Inheritance and Innovation: The Future Missions of Higher Education.
Huai Jinpeng, Ministry of Education of the People’s Republic of China attended and spoke at the event. He emphasized that China advocates open education development and stands ready to broaden academic exchanges and educational cooperation with Italy and other nations globally. China would like to play an active role in global educational governance and contributes its power in education to facilitate global educational reforms. Huai Jinpeng put forward a three-point proposal: Firstly, we should take a leading role in driving the progress of human civilization, collect historical experience, enhance the exchanges of thoughts, respect global civilization diversity, promote the shared value of mankind, attach priority to civilization inheritance and innovation, strengthen international people-to-people communication and collaboration and contribute the wisdom of China and Italy along the journey of promoting world peace, building a community with a shared future for mankind and creating new forms of human civilization. Secondly, we should ramp up scientific collaboration to brave the common challenges for mankind. More joint efforts should be made on basic disciplines, emerging disciplines, and interdisciplinary disciplines to foster the cultivation of the next-generation leading talent. Besides, the two countries should play their parts in the research of basic theories and key technologies to facilitate the sustainable development of human society. Thirdly, we should enhance mutual learning, and upgrade Sino-Italy people-to-people exchanges in a range of approaches including short visits, Student Exchange Programs, summer school, and joint training to promote in-depth communications among youth in the two countries. By doing this, we could plant the seeds of hope for the Sino-Italy friendship, inject more positive energy into the relationship of the two countries and contribute youth to the building of a community with a shared future for mankind.
Chen Jie, Vice-Minister of Education chaired the meeting. Anna Maria Bernini, head of the Italian Ministry of Universities and Research delivered a statement via video conferencing. People attended the Dialogue are including Hao Ping, Secretary of the Party Committee of Peking University, Marcella Gargano, Director General of the Italian Ministry of Universities and Research, the Embassy of the Republic of Italy and persons in charge of nearly 50 colleges and universities in China and Italy.
During the parallel forum, Zhang Shuting presented CUC's practical experiences on the theme of “Civilization Inheritance and Innovation: The Future Missions of Higher Education”. He said that since CUC started offering courses for Italian majors, it has concluded collaboration agreements with many top-ranking Italian universities, including Università per Stranieri di Perugia and Ca' Foscari University of Venice, of which representatives were present today with in-depth communications continuing till now. CUC launched a series of international forums, leagues, and think tanks, including the World Women University Presidents Forum, the CUC International League of Higher Education in Media and Communication, and the Institute for a Community with Shared Future to promote international educational collaboration and exchanges and mutual learning of civilizations by hosting high-quality international academic activities. He mentioned that the school has launched a series of innovative activities called 'Ancient Capital Civilization Dialogue'. It is expected to collaborate with Italian universities to hold a special edition featuring Beijing and Rome, aiming to enrich Sino-Italian cultural exchanges through academic mutual learning. This will foster lasting friendship and cooperation between the two countries.
During the conference, Zhang Shuting engaged in brief discussions with Tiziana Lippiello, Member of the Executive Committee of the Federation of Italian University Rectors and President of Ca' Foscari University of Venice, Valerio De Cesaris, President of Università per Stranieri di Perugia, and Fabio Police, President of University of Salento.
Zhong Dandan, Director of the International Office (Office of Hongkong, Macao and Taiwan Affairs), Fu Zuo, Associate professor of Italian at the School of International Studies, and Miriam Verzellino, Italian student representative attended the relevant activities.
( Editor: Zhu Binger )
