To proactively align with the development needs of new quality productive forces, strengthen the platform for cultivating high-caliber internationalized engineering talent in the energy and power fields, and further advance the internationalization of our university’s energy and power engineering discipline, the opening ceremony of 2026 Shanghai Summer School for Outstanding Energy and Power Engineers amid New Quality Productive Forces was held on the morning of July 7. The summer school runs from July 6 to August 2 and marks the second consecutive year of SDJU hosting this municipal-level international summer school program.
SDJU Vice President Wang Hongzhi attended the ceremony. Leaders from School of Electrical and Energy Engineering (SEEE), Office of International Exchange and Cooperation, Graduate Office, and other departments, representatives of Chinese and foreign faculty members, as well as 17 international students from 13 countries, including the United Kingdom, France, Germany, Russia, and Italy, together with five SDJU graduate students majoring in energy and power engineering, participated in the opening ceremony. The ceremony was hosted by Li Quanfeng, a faculty member from SEEE.
At the beginning of the opening ceremony, Vice President Wang delivered a welcome speech. He extended his welcome to the participating students, reviewed the achievements of the first International Summer School on Energy and Power Engineering, and provided a comprehensive introduction to SDJU’s educational history, disciplinary development achievements, and global exchange and cooperation initiatives. He expressed his hopes for all 22 participants, encouraging them to cherish this valuable learning opportunity, enhance their professional capabilities through academic exploration, broaden their global perspectives through exchanges, and build sincere friendships through this shared experience.
During the warm-up session, Chinese students presented a series of distinctive cultural performances. The melodious chorus of The First Day and the erhu solo Horse Racing showcased the charm of traditional Chinese music. These performances, rich in Eastern cultural elements, enabled international students from afar to experience the appeal of traditional Chinese culture and quickly strengthened the bonds among participants from different countries.
Following this, Wen Daoyuan from SEEE introduced the comprehensive training program of the Summer School. This year’s program features a five-dimensional integrated framework of “professional courses + academic lectures + enterprise practice + city exploration + cultural experiences.” Four core professional courses will be offered, along with four field visits to leading enterprises in related industries. Participants will also take part in city exploration activities featuring Shanghai landmarks such as the Oriental Pearl Tower, Yuyuan Garden, and Chongming Island, as well as multiple experiences focused on Chinese intangible cultural heritage and Shanghai-style culture. Through these activities, the summer school aims to create an immersive international learning environment that deeply integrates theory, industry, and culture.
The opening ceremony invited foreign faculty member Frank Henze to speak as a representative of the teaching staff. He noted that the global energy industry is undergoing rapid transformation and upgrading, resulting in a significant demand for interdisciplinary and internationally oriented engineering professionals. He encouraged students to actively engage in communication, broaden their horizons, establish cross-border friendships through academic exploration, experience contemporary China firsthand, and approach learning challenges with a practical mindset. He wished all participants a fulfilling and memorable learning experience.
Ivan Rogach from Russia delivered a speech as the student representative. On behalf of all international students, he expressed sincere gratitude to the organizing team of our university. He stated that innovation in the field of energy requires young engineers from around the world to work together, and that this Summer School would serve as a valuable platform for international exchange. He looked forward to engaging in professional discussions with students from different countries and building long-term academic connections.
Vice President Wang presented the Summer School flag to international student representative Ivan, symbolizing the official launch of this cross-border academic and cultural learning journey.
Subsequently, the 22 participants introduced themselves one by one. Host Li Quanfeng organized an interactive ice-breaking activity, creating a relaxed and enthusiastic atmosphere that helped participants quickly get to know one another.
At the conclusion of the ceremony, SDJU leaders, Chinese and international faculty members, and participants from both China and abroad took a group photo together, marking the successful completion of the ceremony.
The 2026 Summer School provides a high-level platform for cross-border academic exchange among young scholars from China and abroad. It not only highlights Shanghai’s international image as an important gateway for China’s opening-up but also further enhances the global influence of SDJU’s Energy and Power Engineering discipline. In the future, our university will continue to expand its global cooperation network and contribute to the development of Shanghai as a modern international metropolis.
