From September 23 to 27, Fan Xianqun led a delegation to visit Australia and New Zealand. The delegation visited the University of Sydney, the University of Melbourne, Monash University, and the University of Otago. The visits focused on student exchanges, talent cultivation, scientific research cooperation, and the establishment of international joint laboratories, yielding extensive and fruitful discussions.

Expanding Cooperation in Medical Disciplines: Pushing Forward Medical Collaboration with Australia to New Heights

Coinciding with the 10th anniversary of the establishment of the China-Australia Comprehensive Strategic Partnership, the delegation visited the University of Sydney, the University of Melbourne, and Monash University during their stay in Australia. These three prestigious and historically renowned Australian universities engaged in deep exchanges to further expand collaboration in key academic fields.

At the University of Sydney, Fan met with Vice-Chancellor Kathy Belov and others. Fan highlighted the strong foundation of collaboration between Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine and the University of Sydney School of Medicine, which had jointly held 12 Sino-Australian medical academic forums with fruitful results. He expressed hope for deeper collaboration in student exchange, scientific research, and academic development, and for strengthening the ties between the two institutions. Vice-Chancellor Kathy Belov expressed that the University of Sydney looks forward to establishing a closer partnership with Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine. She emphasized their joint efforts in exploring innovative pathways for the development of medical education, training medical professionals with a global perspective and competitiveness, and driving innovation and progress in medical research. Both parties had in-depth discussions on the scale and number of clinical student exchanges, aiming to overcome the differences in clinical training models between the two countries and further enhance the cultivation of clinical professionals at both universities.

In the presence of Dean Fan and Vice-Chancellor Belov, Jiang Xinquan, Executive Dean of the School of Stomatology at Shanghai Jiao Tong University, and Heiko Spallek, Dean of the School of Dentistry at the University of Sydney, signed a memorandum of cooperation in the field of dentistry.

After the meeting, Fan visited the Save Sight Institute at the University of Sydney. Professor Peter McCluskey, Director of the Institute, introduced the history, current status, and future development plans of the institute. Both sides expressed the desire to strengthen expert exchanges, student exchanges, and joint construction of eye banks, as well as to conduct basic collaborative research and multi-center clinical research. Simultaneously, experts and scholars from both sides conducted in-depth discussions in fields such as dentistry, pharmacy, biomedical engineering, and global health.

At the University of Melbourne, the delegation was warmly welcomed by Vice-Chancellors Justin Zobel and Adrian Little, as well as Jane Gunn, Dean of the Faculty of Medicine, Dentistry, and Health Sciences, and Margie Danchin, Vice Dean. Fan noted that Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine had successfully launched a joint doctoral training program with the University of Melbourne. Based on this success, he suggested expanding the number of students in the program and broadening its scope, especially in clinical medicine. He expressed confidence in expanding educational cooperation between the two institutions.

Following the talks, Fan was invited to visit the Australian Centre for Eye Research, where he engaged in discussions with Director Professor Keith Martin and core researchers on basic and multi-center clinical research in areas such as artificial intelligence and gene therapy. At the same time, Dean Lin Houwen, Vice Dean Zhang Jian, and Vice Dean Yuan Yongfang from the School of Clinical Pharmacy were invited to visit the Bio21 Institute. They delivered keynote presentations at the joint pharmacy seminar, engaging in in-depth discussions on cutting-edge issues with pharmacy experts from the University of Melbourne, establishing a platform for academic exchange. Professor Yin Kun from the School of Global Health visited the Walter and Eliza Hall Institute of Medical Research (WEHI) to discuss plans for the establishment of a joint laboratory. Jiang Xinquan visited the University of Melbourne’s Dental School for academic exchanges.

At Monash University, the delegation was received by Deputy Provost Matthew Gillespie. Fan reviewed the history of cooperation and exchanges between the two universities, stating that Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine and Monash University had deepened their interactions in recent years, with two high-level exchanges taking place last year. The discussions on joint doctoral training and bilateral research forums had been fruitful. Fan expressed the desire to further advance cooperation in medical education and research. Deputy Provost Gillespie agreed and introduced Monash University’s strengths in disciplines such as pharmacy. He emphasized that Monash is actively advancing its internationalization strategy and that both sides should leverage their strengths to deepen cooperation in areas such as clinical pharmacy and nursing. The delegation visited Monash Biomedicine Discovery Institute afterwards.

Signing a Cooperation Memorandum: Leading New Zealand-China Cooperation in Advantageous Disciplines

In New Zealand, Fan Xianqun and his delegation visited the University of Otago, where they were warmly welcomed by Chancellor Hon Grant Robertson and Executive Vice-Chancellor Jessica Palmer. During the welcoming ceremony and meeting, Fan noted that the Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine and the University of Otago share aligned values and a common vision. Last year, Shanghai Ninth People's Hospital affiliated with Shanghai Jiao Tong University jointly established a laboratory with the University of Otago’s School of Dentistry. Fan expressed the hope to further expand the scope of cooperation based on the existing partnership, seize greater opportunities for development, and draw a new blueprint for comprehensive collaboration. Chancellor Hon Grant Robertson (former Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Finance of New Zealand) fully affirmed the steady progress of the collaboration and expressed the hope that the two sides would continue to deepen their friendship and work together for better collaration. In the presence of Fan and Hon Grant Robertson, Jiang Xinquan and Richard Cannon, Vice Dean of the University of Otago’s School of Dentistry, signed a memorandum of cooperation, marking another significant milestone in the partnership between the two institutions.

Chancellor Trish Oakley, Trustee Malcolm A. Wong, and others warmly welcomed the delegation. At the New Zealand-China Non-Communicable Disease Research Cooperation Center, Fan had an in-depth conversation with Professor Jim Mann, Director of the Center. They discussed the possibility of establishing a joint laboratory and hoped to collaborate on research, talent cultivation, and addressing global health challenges in areas such as infectious disease prevention, health policy, epidemiological investigation, and chronic disease control.

In conjunction with the 10th anniversary of the establishment of the New Zealand-China Comprehensive Strategic Partnership, the delegation was invited to visit the Dunedin Government. Dunedin and Shanghai became sister cities in 1994, and this year marks the 30th anniversary of their relationship. High-level exchanges between the two cities have been frequent, and they have engaged in extensive exchanges in education, culture, scientific research, and trade. Medical cooperation has also yielded fruitful results.

Mayor Jules Radich reflected on the friendship between Dunedin and Shanghai and mentioned his visit to Shanghai Ninth People's Hospital last year, which left a lasting impression. He is currently preparing to build a large public hospital in Dunedin. Fan noted that digital medical technology, artificial intelligence applications in medicine, and precision diagnosis and treatment of major diseases are at the forefront of global medical exploration. He expressed confidence that these fields would present opportunities for deeper cooperation between institutions in Shanghai and Dunedin.

Bringing Together Collective Wisdom to Shape the Future

During the visit to Australia, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine Australian Alumni Association was established. Fan attended the founding ceremony and delivered a speech. He introduced the recent rapid development of the university and acknowledged the achievements of alumni in Australia. He put forward three hopes for the alumni association: that it fully plays the role of uniting alumni, building a platform for mutual support; that it serves as a bridge between the university and Australian society; and that it explores ways to organize branded activities and enrich the alumni community. Lastly,Fan expressed his hope that the alumni will continue to care for and support the development of their alma mater, and warmly welcomed them to visit the university often.

During the event, Ni Yanli, an alumna in Australia, introduced the preparations for the Australian Alumni Association. Zhang Lili, Director of SJTUSM Development and Liaison Office, announced the list of the first council members. Executive President Shu Nianming gave a speech. All the alumni present enjoyed a warm and pleasant gathering with their teachers from the alma mater. This is the third overseas alumni association established by SJTUSM, following Japan and France, based on the active promotion of alumni associations in various provinces in China in recent years.

The purpose of this visit was to promote practical cooperation in education between China and Australia and New Zealand, to deepen cooperation in medical education, and to advance and implement cooperation plans. The delegation included representatives from various offices and faculties including the Office of Science and Technology Development, Office of Development and Liaison, Office of International Affairs, College of Stomatology, School of Clinical Pharmacy, and School of Global Health.

The University of Sydney is the oldest university in Australia and a world-renowned public research university. Its School of Medicine is highly ranked globally in clinical medicine, pharmacy, oncology, sports science, and nursing. The Save Sight Institute at the University of Sydney, established in 1985, is a leading ophthalmology research institute in Sydney. The University of Melbourne is the top-ranked research university in Australia. Its School of Medicine, the first medical school established by an Australian university, enjoys a prestigious reputation both domestically and internationally. The Centre for Eye Research Australia (CERA), affiliated with the University of Melbourne, is ranked among the top five in the world in the field of ophthalmic research and serves as a major hub for eye research. Monash University is the largest research university in Australia, with several disciplines ranked among the world's best, including pharmacy and pharmacology, which consistently ranks first in the Asia-Pacific region. The University of Otago, New Zealand's first university, is renowned for its excellent teaching standards and research capabilities. Its School of Medicine is widely regarded as the best in New Zealand.