On the afternoon of September 21, the opening ceremony of the Sino-Finnish Cooperation Program 2018 was held in the multi-functional hall on the second floor of the Administration Center of Zhiqin Building. This was followed by the signing ceremony of the memorandum of understanding (MOU) between the Nanjing Institute of Technology (NJIT) and the University of Oulu (UO) as well as the inauguration of the School of International Education. These events demonstrated the progress and expansion of the communication between NJIT and UO in a comprehensive and multi-dimensional manner, and raised the internationalization of NJIT to a new level.

A 4-member group headed by Professor Jouko Niinim?ki (Rector of the University of Oulu), Ms. Lukia Yang (Officer of the Finnish National Agency for Education and Representative of the Consulate General of Finland in Shanghai), Shi Guojun (Secretary of NJIT CPC Committee), NJIT President Shi Jinfei, NJIT Vice President Cao Xuehong, NJIT Vice President Zhang Yangfei and Professor Zheng Xiaosong (Shanghai University) and other guests attended the ceremony. The opening ceremony was performed by NJIT Vice President Zhang Yangfei. Principals, representatives, teachers and students from the Academic Affairs Office, Student Affairs Office, Office of International Cooperation and Exchanges, School of Computer Engineering, School of International Education and others attended the ceremony.

Rostrum

On this special day with the three highlights, on behalf of all the students and faculty of NJIT, Mr. Shi Guojun warmly welcomed and expressed heartfelt thanks to the guests attending the ceremony and congratulated the freshmen enrolled in the Sino-Finnish Cooperation Program 2018. He said that China and Finland were cooperating as part of the “Belt and Road” Initiative and undertook mutually beneficial projects. He stated that the cooperation between NJIT and the UO was of great significance, not only as an inter-university cooperation between the two universities, but also as an example of inter-city cooperation between Nanjing and Oulu, and an example of higher education cooperation between China and Finland.

Mr. Shi Guojun told the freshmen to "read ten thousand books, and travel ten thousand miles", a Chinese proverb meaning knowledge comes from books as well as from life experience. He highlighted this Sino-Finnish cooperation program as being the first "4+0" dual degree cooperation program offered by Chinese and Finnish universities. Without travelling, students have the opportunity to appreciate both Chinese and Western learning and access the high-quality education and teaching resources of both universities. As the proverb goes “You can lead a horse to the water but you can't make it drink”, Mr. Shi hoped that in their future study and life, all students would work hard to become international professionals, as well as envoys for cultural and technological exchanges between China and Finland. Mr. Shi also stated that participating teachers and staff may take this cooperation program as a new starting point, and involve the School of International Education at NJIT and the joint research center of the two universities as an expansion platform in order to undertake comprehensive and multi-dimensional cooperation in teaching, scientific research and other fields; these efforts may help further the collaboration between the two universities and achieve successful outcomes and useful cooperation experience.

Speech by Shi Guojun, Secretary of NJIT CPC Committee

Ms. Lukia Yang (Officer of the Finnish National Agency for Education, Ministry of Education and Culture, Finland) said in her speech that this first Sino-Finnish dual degree program will become a milestone in the history of Sino-Finnish education cooperation. It created opportunities for Chinese students to experience Finnish education and obtain Finnish degrees without leaving China. Finland's education is world renowned for its high quality and inclusiveness, and it is expected to integrate with China's education system and become a flagship in Sino-foreign cooperative research and higher education. Simultaneously, she hoped that students enrolled in this Sino-Finnish cooperation program would not only succeed in their study of software engineering, but also serve as a link for further communication and cooperation between China and Finland in the future.

Speech by Ms. Lukia Yang, Officer of the Finnish National Agency for Education, 

Ministry of Education and Culture, Finland

While being observed by the representatives and guests attending the ceremony, and with the warm applause of all teachers and students, NJIT President Shi Jinfei and Professor Jouko Niinim?ki (Rector of the University of Oulu) signed the MoU for the joint research center. The center's objectives include organizing regular academic conferences, applying for joint research programs in China, Finland and the European Union, conducting exchanges between researchers, staff and students, jointly training master's and doctoral students, as well as sharing research equipment.

MOU Signing Ceremony for the NJIT-Oulu Joint Research Center

Ms. Lukia Yang (Officer of the Finnish National Agency for Education, Ministry of Education and Culture, Finland), Professor Jouko Niinim?ki (Rector of University of Oulu), NJIT Secretary Shi Guojun and NJIT President Shi Jinfei jointly inaugurated the School of International Education (“SIE”) of NJIT primarily for Sino-foreign cooperative education and international students' courses. In SIE, independent training schemes are customized for different courses to connect with the international curriculum system and focus on the development of students' academic competence and practical innovation capabilities. A bilingual teaching and full English teaching faculty has been established within SIE to improve the English ability of students in addition to studying professional disciplines, as well as creating a comprehensive international atmosphere.

Inauguration of the School of International Education

NJIT President Shi Jinfei addressed the opening ceremony of the Sino-Finnish Cooperation Program 2018. He warmly welcomed the representatives and guests and expressed his heartfelt congratulations and best wishes to the freshmen enrolled in 2018 on their forthcoming college life. He said that the exchanges between the two universities had started three years earlier, and NJIT and UO had undertaken substantive cooperation in a number of areas including exchange visits between teachers and students, cooperation in scientific research projects and the introduction of high-end talents. The current "4+0" Sino-Finnish cooperative education program creates a new model that enables "students to complete their four-year study in China and be awarded undergraduate degrees in both China and Finland. Students studying this Sino-Finnish Cooperation Program would not only appreciate the solid foundation and practice-oriented skills training atmosphere at NJIT, but also access the advanced higher education approach and international teaching resources at the University of Oulu. As the lucky ones enrolled in this Program, the students are expected to be steadfast, ambitious, and committed to developing their international perspectives and to acquiring solid professional knowledge alongside excellent practical and cross-cultural communication skills.

Mr. Shi highlighted that today's opening ceremony, the MOU signing and the unveiling of the School of International Education are not only historic symbols of the profound friendship and good cooperative relationship between China and Finland, but also milestones in the development of international cooperation and exchanges by NJIT. He stated that in the coming years, both sides would continue to enhance the exchanges, cooperation and joint projects to create a better tomorrow; NJIT would step up efforts to improve the international exchanges and cooperation and contribute more to the achievement of its development goals and the advancement of higher education to the satisfaction of everyone.

Speech by NJIT President Shi Jinfei

Addressing the meeting, Professor Jouko Niinim?ki (Rector of University of Oulu) recalled the deep friendship between China and Finland and the excellent relationship of cooperation and exchange between both universities. He said that the Sino-Finnish Undergraduate Cooperation Program is the largest international cooperative teaching program at the University of Oulu. In addition to signing agreements related to the Program, the two universities also signed a MOU on expanding cooperation in other areas. In the next few years, the two sides plan to develop three new cooperation programs. The collaboration between the two universities will also be deepened through the establishment of a "Joint Research Center". The first 100 students will begin their studies this fall on the Software Engineering Undergraduate Program. Within four years, the number of students on this program will reach 400. He said he was pleased that there were a significant number of applicants for this program and that it is very popular among students. "Study hard, enjoy challenges and learn from each other", Professor Jouko Niinim?ki told all the new students. He hoped that all students would start their international university life motivated by the opportunities and challenges ahead.

Speech by ProfessorJouko Niinim?ki,Rectorof the University of Oulu

Mr. Zhang Jiande (School of Computer Engineering faculty representative), Mr. Makula (University of Oulu faculty representative), and Mr. Sun Binjie (Sino-Finnish Cooperation Class 181 student representative), made speeches at the ceremony, expressing their confidence and determination to work hard and aim to be successful on the international platform of the Sino-Finnish Cooperation Program and to "create a better future together".

After the opening ceremony, the participating representatives, guests, teachers and students took a group photo and visited the campus. They were all profoundly impressed by the superior infrastructure, excellent teaching equipment and beautiful campus environment at NJIT.

On the same day, NJIT Secretary Shi Guojun composed a poem to celebrate the commencement of the Sino-Finnish Cooperation Program and presented it to Professor Jouko Niinim?ki:

Congratulations on the opening of the Sino-Finnish Cooperation Program

and a gift to Mr. Jouko Niinim?ki

It’s a long way from Nanjing to Oulu,

We are happily connected through the cooperation program.

Petrels fly southeast in Finland,

Herons dance briskly in Tianyin Lake.

By adhering to learning for application,

We combine knowledge and action.

Motivated by four years of fruitful achievements,

Students forge ahead with no need to be supervised and encouraged.