Government, universities, and businesses are joining forces to leverage social resources to support universities in cultivating international talent, thereby helping Shanghai accelerate the development of an international science and technology innovation hub with global influence. This afternoon (March 22), the Tongji University International Student Community, located at 888 Xiangyin Road in Shanghai, officially opened its doors, welcoming its first cohort of over 200 international students.
Ye Linlin, Deputy Director of the Shanghai Municipal Education Commission; Ma Xiaobin, Deputy Director of the Shanghai State-owned Assets Supervision and Administration Commission; Zhou Haiying, Deputy Secretary of the Yangpu District Party Committee and District Governor; and Xu Ming, Deputy District Governor; Pu Shaohua, Party Secretary, Chairman, and President of Bailian Group, and Sun Wei, Member of the Party Committee and Executive Vice President; Zheng Qinghua, Party Secretary of Tongji University and Academician of the Chinese Academy of Engineering; Yang Jinlong, President of Tongji University and Academician of the Chinese Academy of Sciences; and Shi Zhenming, Vice President of Tongji University, attended the inauguration ceremony, which was presided over by Liu Run, Deputy Party Secretary of Tongji University.
Ye Linlin stated that the inauguration of Tongji University’s International Student Community represents a concrete step by the university to enhance its international service capabilities. It also serves as a vivid example of Shanghai’s efforts to optimize the international development environment for higher education, embodying an innovative model of collaboration among government, academia, and industry, and setting a new benchmark for mobilizing social resources to serve the cause of education. She expressed the hope that the community would not only serve as a warm haven where international students can study with peace of mind and live comfortably, but also become a vibrant platform for cultural exchange and mutual learning between China and other countries, as well as a space where the wisdom of young people can collide and blend.
Ma Xiaobin noted that through university-enterprise collaboration and district-enterprise coordination, the transformation of assets into a high-quality community serving international talent not only highlights the important role of state-owned enterprises in urban renewal and optimizing resource allocation but also injects new momentum into enhancing Shanghai’s capacity as a hub for international talent. This initiative represents an innovative exploration of industry-education integration and collaborative development. It is hoped that this place will not only be a warm and welcoming home for international students, but also a hub for the convergence and mutual learning of Chinese and foreign cultures, as well as a testing ground for the incubation of innovative ideas.
Zhou Haiying noted that the opening of Tongji University’s International Student Community provides an excellent, comfortable, and secure living environment to attract outstanding young people from around the world to Yangpu for study, exchange, innovation, and entrepreneurship. This initiative will further promote resource sharing and complementary strengths between the district and the university, elevate Yangpu’s level of openness, and mark a solid and powerful new step forward in deepening the “Three-Zone Linkage and Three-City Integration” process. Yangpu District will continue to optimize the urban environment for openness, attracting young people from around the world to become participants, builders, and beneficiaries of the district’s development.
Pu Shaohua noted that this project has successfully created a high-quality residential community tailored to the needs of international students, representing a valuable exploration in transforming existing assets into service spaces for international talent. Bailian Group is willing to further deepen its comprehensive cooperation with Yangpu District and Tongji University, enabling state-owned enterprises to better serve the broader cause of Shanghai’s internationalization. He expressed hope that the International Student Community will operate smoothly and grow increasingly successful, becoming a shining emblem of Shanghai’s international talent education and services.
Zheng Qinghua remarked that the inauguration of the international student community marks a new milestone for Tongji University in ensuring internationalized educational conditions and fostering a nurturing environment. It also provides a solid infrastructure and a vital innovative platform for actively responding to Shanghai’s “15th Five-Year Plan” initiatives to deepen educational openness, proactively supporting the expansion and enhancement of the “Study in Shanghai” program, and systematically improving the quality of international student education. Tongji University will manage and utilize this community to the highest standards, striving to build it into a model for international student communities in Shanghai.
“This is not just a dormitory; it feels more like a warm home, allowing me to focus on my studies with greater peace of mind.” “My dream of studying in China has finally come true. My academic and campus life at Tongji University is not only interesting but also meaningful.” Zheng Anyi from Canada and Eszter from Hungary shared their genuine feelings and wonderful experiences of studying at Tongji and living in the International Student Community.
Located at 888 Xiangyin Road in Yangpu District, Shanghai, the Tongji University International Student Community is situated in the core area of the Wujiaochang sub-center, boasting a prime location and convenient transportation. With a total floor area of 17,800 square meters, the community consists of five dormitory buildings, offering 519 rooms and accommodating 759 international students for living, studying, and cultural exchange.
Following the inauguration ceremony, attending leaders and guests toured the International Student Community to inspect the room facilities and public amenities.
Subsequently, Tongji University and Yangpu District held a meeting to deepen university-district cooperation, engaging in in-depth discussions on the implementation of the new round of strategic cooperation agreements between the district and the university.
