On the morning of June 15th, Antai College of Economics and Management (ACEM) of Shanghai Jiao Tong University (SJTU) held a grand ceremony at Wenzhi Hall at Xuhui Campus to commemorate the 40th anniversary of the re-establishment of SJTU School of Management. The event brought together leaders at various levels, distinguished guests from all sectors of society, a wide range of alumni, as well as faculty and student representatives to jointly celebrate this significant milestone.
The ceremony was attended by an impressive roster of dignitaries, including Hua Jianmin, Vice Chairman of the Standing Committee of the 11th National People’s Congress (NPC); Yan Junqi, Vice Chairman of the Standing Committee of the 11th and 12th NPC; Xie Dong, Vice Mayor of Shanghai; Wang Ping, Deputy Secretary General of the Shanghai Municipal Government; Wang Zhongwei, former Director of the Counsellors’ Office of the State Council; Lu Xin, former Vice Minister of the Ministry of Education; Hu Yanzhao, former Vice Mayor of Shanghai; Jiang Jianqing, former Chairman of the Industrial and Commercial Bank of China; Ling Wen, member of the Chinese Academy of Engineering and former Vice Governor of Shandong Province; Jia Weiping, member of the Chinese Academy of Engineering and Director of the Institute for Proactive Healthcare of SJTU; Lian Yong, member of the Canadian Academy of Engineering and Singapore Academy of Engineering; Jue Xing, Abbot of Jade Buddha Temple in Shanghai; Wu Kai, Chief Scientist of Contemporary Amperex Technology Co., Ltd (CATL); Ding Kuiling, President of SJTU and member of the Chinese Academy of Sciences; Wang Zongguang, former Party Secretary of SJTU; Xie Shengwu, former President of SJTU; Ma Dexiu, former Party Secretary of SJTU; Jiang Sixian, former Party Secretary of SJTU; Lin Zhongqin, former president of SJTU and member of the Chinese Academy of Engineering; Zhang Ansheng, Standing Committee of the Party Committee and Vice President of SJTU; Zhou Cheng, Deputy Secretary of the Party Committee and Secretary of the Discipline Inspection Commission of SJTU; Gu Feng, full-time deputy director of the SJTU’s Council; Wang Houji, member of the Standing Committee of the Party Committee and Minister of United Front Work Department; Chen Fangruo, President of Antai College of Economics and Management (ACEM) of SJTU; as well as leaders at all levels from all relevant parties in Shanghai, domestic and foreign sister business schools, sister units on campus, alumni who care about and support the development of the college at home and abroad, guest representatives, and representatives of the college’s faculty and students attended the conference. The ceremony was presided over by Jiang Wenning, Party Secretary of Antai College.
At 9 am, the conference opened with the national anthem.
President Ding Kuiling conveyed warm congratulations on behalf of the university to all faculty, students and alumni of Antai College. He expressed sincere gratitude to people from all walks of life who have long supported the development of the university and the college. He pointed out that over the past 40 years since its re-establishment, Antai College has stayed true to its original aspirations, kept pace with the country’s development, and made remarkable achievements in talent cultivation, discipline building, academic research, policy consultation, and international cooperation. The college has forged an innovative development path towards becoming a top-tier business school both domestically and globally, contributing wisdom and strength to national economic development and Shanghai’s urban growth, while playing a vital role in advancing Chinese business education and management disciplines to the world stage. He encouraged Antai to carry forward its fine traditions and forge ahead to build a world-class business school deeply rooted in China, becoming an important contributor to comprehensively promoting Chinese-style modernization, strengthening the country, and realizing the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation.
Costis Maglaras, Dean of Columbia Business School, delivered a video speech as a member of Antai’s Strategic Advisory Board and representative of partner institutions. He expressed his honor in witnessing Antai’s adherence to a strategy of integrating knowledge and practice, its commitment to excellence, and its active promotion of international exchanges and cooperation to gradually grow into a world-renowned business school. He looks forward to deeper collaborations with the college to jointly advance the development of global business education.
Zeng Yuqun, founder and chairman of Contemporary Amperex Technology Co., Ltd (CATL), gave a speech as a partner representative. As an SJTU alumnus, he pledged to continue supporting the development of his alma mater and its business school. The launch of the 21st Century Multinational Corporation Strategy Research Institute, jointly established by CATL and Antai College, marks a strategic move rooted in China’s realities and focused on future development.
Dignitaries including Hua Jianmin, Yan Junqi, Xie Dong, Wang Zhongwei, Lu Xin, Hu Yanzhao, Wang Ping, Ding Kuiling, Wu Kai, Ling Wen, Xie Shengwu, Ma Dexiu, Jiang Sixian, Lin Zhongqin, Chen Fangruo, and Jiang Wenning jointly launched the 21st Century Multinational Corporation Strategy Research Institute. The institute, a collaborative effort between the university and enterprises, aims to explore new issues, strategies, theories, methods and talent cultivation models in the development of multinational corporations, serving as an international research and exchange platform with Chinese perspective and global vision to help Chinese enterprises and management theories better integrate with the world.
The ceremony also featured the premiere of a promotional video titled “With Knowledge and Action, Antai Moves Forward Vertically and Horizontally”. The video reviews the development and changes of SJTU’s economics and management disciplines over more than a century. With the theme of "cross-cutting perspective, thinking, vision and spirit", it vividly showcases the progressive journey of generations of Antai people over the 40 years since the school’s re-establishment.
Dean Chen Fangruo, in his report on ACEM's past 4 decades' development, expressed his gratitude to all sectors of society for their care and support and to the faculty, students and alumni for their hard work and contributions. He said that standing at a new starting point, Antai College will follow the guidance of Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era, focus on the primary task of fostering virtue through education, and strive to build a world-class business school deeply rooted in China, in order to make greater contributions to the country’s modernization drive and the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation.
During the alumni and student representative speech session, Academian Ling Wen, a postdoctoral alumnus of ACEM, reflected on the profound impact of the university, college, and mentors on his personal growth and development. He shared his journey of practicing the school motto "Gratitude for the source of benefits" through concrete actions and expressed confidence and determination to continue applying high-quality, breakthrough academic achievements to China’s economic development and corporate management practices.
Lian Yong, one of the first undergraduate graduates after the college’s re-establishment, recalled his study experience at the college 40 years ago. He shared how his management background influenced his career planning and research direction choices, encouraging faculty and students to seize opportunities in technological revolution and industrial transformation, focus on cultivating interdisciplinary comprehensive abilities, strengthen international exchanges and cooperation, and lead innovative development in business education.
Yao Ming, Chairman of the Chinese Basketball Association and a 2018 undergraduate alumnus, delivered a video speech congratulating the college on its 40th anniversary. He recalled his studying experience at the college, thanked the college for its contribution to cultivating comprehensive sports talents, and encouraged students to inherit and carry forward the SJTU spirit, expressing his hope that the college will cultivate more basketball and sports elites.
Wang Fanghua, Antai's Former Dean, as an important promoter and witness of the college’s development, recalled the historical background of the college’s re-establishment. He described the college’s pioneering journey of keeping pace with national needs, bravely shouldering the responsibilities of the times, and always striving for excellence from three aspects: "mission-driven," "internationalization strategy," and "talent-strong college." He expressed his best wishes and hopes for the college’s future development.
Zhang Kuo, Head of the Accounting Department, spoke as a representative of young teachers. He shared his experiences and growth since joining the college and expressed gratitude for the college’s full-process cultivation and support for young teachers. He conveyed his sense of responsibility and mission in teaching and educating people, his dedication and love for academic research, and his hope to contribute more wisdom and strength to the college’s development through upholding integrity, innovation, pragmatism, and hard work.
Pan Xiaotong, a undergraduate student of 2021 class, spoke as a student representative. She shared her story of coming from a border region to SJTU and her connection with the college, her feelings and experiences of studying and growing at the college, and her gains from participating in the university’s cultural and museum volunteer services and conducting university and college history tours. She expressed her ambition and determination to contribute to the development of China’s border regions.
At the conference, the Antai College of Economics and Management Alumni Association was officially established. Ding Kuiling, Zhang Ansheng, Zhou Cheng, Gu Feng, Wang Houji, Chen Fangruo, Jiang Wenning, and current college leadership jointly launched the Alumni Association and presented appointment letters to the president, vice presidents, and secretary-general of the first council of the Alumni Association.
Yu Weijing, President of the first council of the Alumni Association and Chairman and President of the United Water Group, stated in his speech that the Alumni Association is an important bridge for communication and connection among alumni and between alumni and their alma mater. It will fully gather alumni strength, focus on building a community for alumni and college development, and work together to create a "home" for Antai people.
The conference concluded with the entire audience singing the SJTU anthem.
Forty years of magnificent waves, a brilliant journey of chasing dreams. At the new starting point of the 40th anniversary of its re-establishment, the Antai College of Economics and Management will embark on a new journey, carry forward the past and forge ahead into the future, uphold integrity and innovate, and stride firmly towards the goal of building a world-class business school rooted in China!
Source: SJTU ACEM
Editor on Duty: Yan Cheng