A series of events celebrating the 25th anniversary of the Nordic Centre at Fudan University were held both online and offline during October 17 and 19.
As a joint-venture between Fudan University, the Nordic Institute of Asian Studies (NIAS) and 24 Universities from Denmark, Finland, Iceland, Norway and Sweden, the Nordic Centre at Fudan University has served as a platform since its founding in 1995 for initiating and developing research and educational programmes, activities, conferences and workshops of shared interest to Nordic and Chinese scholars. After years of development, the Centre has played a key role in boosting exchanges and cooperation between universities in China and the 5 Nordic countries. The Centre has now 25 full members and 3 associate members – NIAS, Xi’an Jiaotong-Liverpool University and the Ocean University of China.
The anniversary ceremony was held on October 18, with representatives from member universities gathering online.
Xu Ningsheng, president of Fudan University, addressed the ceremony via a video link. He said the efforts of the Board, the Council and the Secretariat chaired by different Nordic member universities have resulted in significant breakthroughs and outputs in the past 25 years, and the Centre has managed to operate with innovative ways in the face of the pandemic unseen in a century. Xu hoped that more students and scholars, especially young scholars of the member universities could gather to work more efficiently for the betterment of mankind.
Kalle-Antti Suominen, Nordic Centre board member and vice-rector of the University of Turku, Finland, made keynote speech on Sino-Nordic collaborations.
Tang Xu, executive director of IRDR-ICoE on Risk Interconnectivity and Governance on Weather/Climate Extremes Impact and Public Health, delivered keynote speech on “International Collaboration: Risk Interconnectivity and Governance on Climate Change Impact, Weather/climate Extremes, Air Pollution and Public Health”.
The ceremony was moderated by Per Cramer, chair of Nordic Centre Board and Council and dean of the School of Business, Economics and Law at the University of Gothenburg, Sweden. Li Huajun, vice president of Ocean University of China and academician of Chinese Academy of Engineering, and Ma Fei, assistant vice president of Xi 'an Jiaotong-Liverpool University also sent congratulatory messages via video links.
The ceremony was followed with a Rectors’ Round-table discussion on the role of universities in a global crisis, which was joined by heads of 13 member universities, including Aalborg University (Denmark), Hanken School of Economics, University of Eastern Finland, University of Tampere, University of Turku (Finland), University of Iceland, Norwegian Business School, Oslo Metropolitan University, University of Bergen, University of Oslo (Norway), Lund University, University of Gothenburg (Sweden) and Fudan University.
Recognizing the four thematic areas for Nordic–Chinese research collaborations identified in the Nordic Centre new strategy, i.e., Sino-Nordic Perspectives, Sustainable Development, Digitalization and Technology and Health and Welfare, the rectors/presidents and vice-rectors/presidents reached consensus that universities should play a more important role in the face of multiple global crises, including COVID-19, climate change and ageing population. The achievements of the Nordic Centre over the past 25 years have proved that it can provide an excellent platform for exchanges and cooperation between Chinese and Nordic higher educational institutions. In the future, member universities should make better use of this platform to strengthen academic cooperation between China and Nordic universities and tackle global challenges jointly.
On the evening before the ceremony, the Centre held an offline reception for its 25th anniversary in Shanghai.
Jacob Linulf, consul general of Denmark in Shanghai, spoke highly of the Nordic Centre in promoting scientific research and cultural exchanges and cooperation between Nordic countries and China. He pointed out that in the face of many global challenges of this era, it is more necessary for us to strengthen communication and international cooperation, especially in the field of scientific research and education, so as to solve our common problems.
Chen Zhimin, vice president of Fudan University, expressed gratitude to the support for the Nordic Centre from all sectors. He said the decision of establishing the Centre 25 years ago has proven to be a far-sighted one, as the Centre has achieved great success over the past years. The Centre has grown into an important bridge for people of Nordic countries and China to enhance mutual understanding and knowledge sharing by organizing a number of academic, educational and cultural activities every year. In the face of the pandemic, universities around the world should work together to explore better solutions to the complex challenges facing mankind.
The reception was also joined by Lise Nordgaard, consul general of Norway in Shanghai, Marie-Claire Sward Capra, consul general of Sweden in Shanghai, and Tiina Rinne-Aguilar from General Consulate of Finland in Shanghai.
On October 19, three academic seminars on social policy, arctic research and cultural heritage were held simultaneously. Over 40 scholars from Fudan university, Chinese Academy of Social Sciences, Nanjing university, Sun Yat-sen University, University of Gothenburg, Stockholm University, Lund university, University of Bergen, University of Oslo, University of Helsinki, University of Lapland, University of Iceland and other colleges and universities joined the seminars.
In the future, the Nordic Centre at Fudan University will strive to make outstanding contributions to the in-depth cooperation between China and Nordic countries in the fields of education, research and culture.
