It is already early winter while the campus of Tongji University is still full of vitality, especially the School of Economics and Management (Tongji SEM). Various distinctive decorations and event logo are everywhere within the School, announcing the coming of an international feast. On November 11^th, 2022, the 3^rd “November Go Global Go Beyond International Month” officially kicked off. Themed with “Enlightened Thoughts, Insightful Voice”, this year’s “November International Month” aims to motivate our students to go global, go beyond in a more open and inclusive manner. Students also showed great enthusiasm in this event as the opening ceremony attracted over 600 students both online and offline even though it is in such a chilly season. WANG Hongwei, Deputy Dean of SEM, together with DING Ruiting, Deputy Dean of Tongxin School, College of New Students at Tongji University, attended the opening ceremony and delivered insightful speeches. James WU, Greater China Vice President Sustainability & General Manager Social Business of Danone, was also invited to deliver a keynote speech at the opening ceremony.

Collaboration among Schools: Foster Awareness of Internationalization with Strategic Minds

The idea of internationalization is long-standing and well established in the history of Tongji University. Based on this wonderful tradition, SEM has been standing firmly in integrating internationalization into talent cultivation in the past 40 years, and has incorporated it into the School’s development strategy. As WANG Hongwei mentioned in his speech, internationalization is a trend in today’s world. The number of students who have shown strong willingness in studying abroad still keeps increasing even it is still under the impact of Covid-19. He also encouraged students to enhance global competence and shape international vision by participating in international exchanges actively so as to seize a place in a rapidly changing world.

On the one hand, internationalization is emphasized strategically. On the other hand, collaboration among schools has also been one of the distinctive features of SEM. To hold series events successfully, SEM has carried out in-depth cooperation with the College of New Students, and both sides have attached significant importance to the internationalization of talent cultivation. DING Ruiting also stressed in his speech that students from Tongji University should have the aspiration of creating a better world. “Go Global” is not only to experience the world and improve ourselves comprehensively by going through difficulties, but also to integrate personal dreams and values into national needs. Series events of this year’s “November Go Global Go Beyond International Month” covering multiple schools and majors, have brought far-reaching impact on their international awareness at an early stage.

Rendezvous for Great Minds: Enlighten Students with Insightful Views

To make this event more profound and enhance students’ understanding of internationalization comprehensively, SEM invited several important guests both from home and abroad to discuss the future of education in Tongji University. As the keynote speaker at the opening ceremony, James WU started his speech by introducing the concept of sustainable career development. He then analyzed the features of international talents step-by-step and offered insightful views on how internationalization drove career development by indicating the internationalization trend of Chinese enterprises and talent demands. In the end, he suggested students making future plans in advance so as to avoid to be trapped by talent homogeneity with the help of personal brands building through international experience.

Apart from taking the voice of business world into account, SEM also hopes to strengthen communications with scholars and government officials to provide students with a comprehensive perspective to deepen their understanding of internationalization. On the afternoon of 18^th, Mr. Olivier PEREZ, Head of Campus France Chine-Shanghai attended one of the events and said that their agency has been making great efforts to connect international students and trying their best to make it easier for Chinese students to study in France even though the covid-19 has been going on for years. Meanwhile, Ms. XUN Jing, Marketing and Program Officer of Campus France Chine-Shanghai gave a general introduction of French higher educational system, programs and relevant policies. She then also offered loads of beneficial advice about studying and working in France.

On the evening of November 18th, Professor Amir REZA, Dean of Babson Academy, and Dean of Global Education, was invited to give an online speech on “In Pursuit of a Global Mindset”. Globalization has become a trend today, and how to cultivate global thinking has become important. Professor REZA took “self-identity cognition” as the starting point and explained the key concepts and theories on global thinking, global citizenship, cross-cultural sensitivity and intercultural competence transmission model., etc. During the speech, Professor REZA also set up interactive games and questions to interact with the students in an all-round way. The event was full of highlights and ideas.

Interactive Salon: Collision of Disparate Ideas Creates Sparks of Ideas

In order to enrich the student’s experience and present a diversified academic sharing to students, the “November Go Global Go Beyond International Month” also set up interactive salons. Dr. ZHANG Xingyue, Assistant Professor of University of Washington and distinguished alumnus of SEM, Dr. WU Yijiang, Director of Innovation Insights of Cisco UK Innovation Department, and Dr. YAN Zhenbin, Assistant Researcher of Department of Management Science and Engineering of SEM, were invited to conduct in-depth exchanges and discussions on how doctoral students can open up the path to overseas scientific research. Dr. WU Yijiang combined his personal overseas scientific research and enterprise practice experience, and gave unique insights on the implementation of scientific research projects and results transformation. The interaction and sharing of the three guests brought infinite enlightenment to the students, and led to many on-site questions.

Program Introduction: Diversified Policies to Help Students Study Abroad

As a business school with years of efforts in the field of international talent cultivation, SEM has established good cooperation relations with more than 100 international institutions, including ESCP, HEC Paris and other top business schools. There are more than 70 non-degree exchange programs and more than 30 dual-degree programs, providing up to 360 tuition-free international exchange opportunities each year for SEM students to study abroad.

The university also strongly supported the “November Go Global Go Beyond International Month” series events. Mr. YIN Wen, Deputy Director of the Foreign Affairs Office, Ms. YAN Aihua, Deputy Director of the Foreign Affairs Office, Mr. CHEN Yili, Director of the International Student Office, and Mrs. YUAN Yuan, Director of the International Education Office of the Graduate School attended the “November Go Global Go Beyond International Month” series events and shared many valuable experiences on studying abroad in Germany, France, Japan and other popular regions. In addition, Mrs. YUAN Yuan introduced in detail the national government-sponsored graduate program, double doctoral degree program, university funded program, international organization internship program and other key opportunities.

Interactive Sharing: Perceiving the World through a Multicultural Journey

In today’s highly globalized world, “Go global” has become a quest for many college students in the new era to pursue their dreams for the future. It is also an important part of many young students’ future career planning. For many SEM students, overseas study brings them not only the expansion of international vision, diversified and rich overseas study experience, but also the opportunities to experience the culture and customs of foreign countries. In order to have a better understanding of the overseas study and life, our school specially arranged an interactive salon with Professor ZHANG Yan, the Dean of Confucius Institute in Madrid, and a number of overseas SEM students to tell their stories of studying abroad. Some of them shine at the United Nations World Urban Forum, some of them speak out at international academic conferences, during which they learn about themselves and the world in diverse cultures.

As a brand activity to promote the internationalization of talent training of our school, “November Go Global Go Beyond International Month” series events have created innovation to bring continuous improvement of international talent training of Tongji SEM. This year’s event has come to a successful end, and we hope that through this series of events, Tongji students can broaden their international vision and go abroad for study, while on the other hand, bring Tongji to the world.