SIPA Announcement on 15th Anniv. Celebration
2018/5/8 16:55:28
May 8, 2018
Spanning over one and a half decades, SJTU’s School of International and Public Affairs (SIPA) is going to embrace its 15th anniversary on November17, 2018. We would like to pay our sincerest gratitude and noblest respect to people from all walks of life and alumni both at home and abroad.
Over the past 15 years we have witnessed SIPA’s unremitting efforts to improve itself and nurture talents. Political science education in SJTU can be traced back to 1901, when Nan Yang Public School—the predecessor of SJTU, developed a specific political training program with Cai Yuanpei as the director. With an aim to cultivate public service talents, SIPA came into being in 2003. Guided by the motto of “Wisdom, Integrity, Diligence, and Harmony”, SIPA has been committing to academic research, talent recruitment, student training and social service. A vivid display of this is that SIPA’s Public Administration program was rated as a Type A discipline during the latest round of the Ministry of Education evaluation.
Looking back on the route we have taken, we notice that our footprints are impressive, and none of it would have been possible without the joint efforts of SIPA faculty, students and alumni. We appointed General Xiong Guangkai, former Deputy Chief of staff of the People’s Liberation Army of China as Honorary Dean. Thanks to SIPA students, SJTU received a best-ever First Prize in the social science category of the National Challenge Cup Competition. Seven theses written by SIPA students were selected as Best MPA Paper in China, ranking 1st among domestic universities. Throughout the past 15 years, SIPA alumni have made great contributions to the country’s political, economic and cultural progress.
Against the background of the “Double First-Class” initiative, SIPA will continue to seek new breakthroughs in talent training, scientific research, social services, cultural heritage as well as international cooperation. Under the leadership of Shanghai Jiao Tong University and with the strong support of faculty, students and alumni, SIPA is bound to usher in a new era of progress and prosperity.
2018 will be an extraordinary year for SIPA and it will also be an opportune time to reflect, reform and gather strength for the journey ahead. SIPA is now appealing to alumni and friends all around the world to actively join our celebration and contribute to the master plan for our school’s development.
History of SIPA
Spanning over three centuries, Shanghai Jiao Tong University celebrated its 122nd anniversary this year. The political science education in SJTU can be traced back to the early 20th century, when Nan Yang Public School---the predecessor of SJTU, developed a specific political training program.
In 1901, Zhang Yuanji proposes to Sheng Xuanhuai the idea of designing a program to train public service talents. Sheng Xuanhuai stresses the purpose of the program and the importance and impact of talents on the country's competitiveness.
In the same year, 42 students are admitted into this new program, among which are Huang Yanpei, Li Shutong, Shao Lizi, Hu Renyuan, Xie Wuliang, and Bei Shoutong. Cai Yuanpei is appointed as the director, and all the courses are taught in English. The program sets a new trend in cultivating public service talents with global vision and scientific expertise.
In 1902, 10 graduates enter the newly-developed politics program for further study.
In 1931, School of Railway Management is renamed School of Management, comprising four departments: railway management, public affairs management, financial management and industrial management. Public affairs management offers programs such as political science, Chinese, and foreign languages.
In 2003, School of International and Public Affairs (SIPA) is founded.
In 2010, SIPA obtains the right to award PhD degree in Public Administration.
In 2012, SIPA’s Public Administration program is ranked 7th nationally (based on the PRC Ministry of Education evaluation).
In 2017, SIPA’s Public Administration program is rated as a Type A discipline by the Ministry of Education.