Shanghai University, UT professors hope to continue, expand global partnership

Events surrounding the Shanghai University and UT Joint Forum on China took place Monday. Faculty and students turned out to learn more about the nation of China and its relations with the United States.

  A variety of topics centered in the social sciences were discussed among the panelists from both universities.

  Professor Li Youmei, vice president of Shanghai Univeristy, visited UT to participate in the panel. Present with her was Professor Sun Shaoyi, who gave remarks entitled “Trial by Space: The Cinematic City and the Construction of the Nation-State.” Professor Zhang Yonghua also attended, addressing the “Development of New Forms of Media Communication in Mainland China.”

  Presenters from UT included religious studies professor Megan Bryson who addressed religion in her speech, “Baijie and the Bai: Religion and Ethnicity in Dali, Yunnan.” Political science professor Yang Zhong gave attention to perhaps one of the most pressing questions involved in relations with China exploring the question, “Will China Be a Threat to the U.S.?”

  The forum represents a continuation of relations between these two universities.

  “About two years ago, UTK sent a group of faculty members to Shanghai University to talk about renewable energy,” Zhong said. “We are happy to welcome these faculty members to UTK to continue this relationship.”

  Provost Susan Martin was given the honor of introducing the panel of speakers.

  “In regard to cultivating our relationship with the University of Shanghai, we hope this is one that will continue years and years into the future,” Martin said. “As we move forward in the modern world, we can only attempt to enhance our mutual cooperation and understanding.”

  The goal of the forum represented Shanghai University’s goal to broaden the scope of cooperation between itself and UT.

  Youmei spoke first to the group, addressing the audience in Chinese, aided by a translator. She expressed her pleasure with the visit and her remembrance of her last visit. The topic of that visit was on renewable energies and their futures.

  For this visit, she seemed pleased to discuss her university’s developing role in the global community.

  “The Vice Minister of Education in China designated Shanghai University as one of the top universities not only in China but also in the world,” Youmei said. “We need to enhance our global reach to increase this foothold, and we sincerely hope UT students and faculty will come and visit us.”

  Shaoyi then proceeded to discuss the conflicts involved in Shanghai’s evolution from a nation-state into a global city.

  “Shanghai was developed in an opposite way from the nation-state of China,” Shaoyi said. “Some called for the destruction of the city because of opposition to the concept of its numerous influences.”

  Shaoyi’s research is centered on an analysis of Shanghai’s development from the Chinese perspective. He used films set in the city dating back to the 1930s to support his claims regarding the ever-changing views of Shanghai.

  “Shanghai most recently became part of the ‘Great China’ rhetoric, as exemplified by the Olympic and World Expo promotional films and ads,” Shaoyi said.

  Yonghua then addressed the audience on the role of media within modern Chinese society.

  “Internet development in China greatly increased the prominence of online media in China,” Yonghua said.  “The growth rate of this media outlet has been rapid. Chinesse Internet use has increased from 620,000 in 1997 to 420 million in 2010, and mainland China now forms one of the fastest growing markets for Internet related industries.”

  There was a great deal covered by the panel in a relatively short amount of time. Panelists were rushed to fit their presentations into the hour-and-a-half timeslot. It was inspiring to see the cooperation between the faculty members from different nations.

  UT students seemed extremely interested in the presentations of the guests, and numerous faculty members turned out to listen to the remarks as well.

  The event was co-sponsored by the International House in China Initiative as well as the Center for Asian Studies.

  Events for the forum included this particular afternoon panel session, as well as a reception and a second panel, both of which took place Monday evening.