October 29, 2012, ShanghaiTech and the University of California, Berkeley signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to launch a collaboration in education, culture, and scientific research over the next five years. The signing ceremony was held at Shanghai Pudong Science and Technology Park of the Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS). Dr. Mianheng Jiang, President of CAS Shanghai Branch, and Dr. Robert J. Birgeneau, Chancellor of the University of California, Berkeley, signed the MoU. Dr. Renchang Hua, Chief Commander of Pudong Science and Technology Park, Dr. Jie Yin, Deputy Director of Shanghai Municipal Education Commission, Ms. Cher Wang, Chairperson of VIA/HTC Group, Dr. Zihe Rao, Academician of CAS, Dr. Songlin Feng, President of the Shanghai Advanced Research Institute, CAS (SARI) and Dr. Jinkang Gong, Principal of International Affairs of ShanghaiTech University attended the ceremony along with delegates from UC Berkeley including Dr. Tsu-Jae King Liu, Electrical Engineering Division Chair and Electrical Engineering and Computer Sciences Associate Chair, College of Engineering, Mr. Scott Biddy, Vice Chancellor for University Relations, Mr. David Jeu, Assistant Vice Chancellor for International Relations, as well as other staff with the delegation.

ShanghaiTech and UC Berkeley have agreed to be in partnership in education, culture and scientific research over the next five years. As a start to the education collaboration program, faculty in the Department of Electrical Engineering and Computer Sciences in the UC Berkeley College of Engineering, will share some of their core course instruction resources and instructional materials and references with a selection of courseware being developed for online format. For each course, ShanghaiTech University will send faculty members to UC Berkeley to learn their counterpart faculty member’s pedagogical and and research methodology.

The MoU signed between ShanghaiTech University and UC Berkeley represents a significant move for ShanghaiTech in promoting high-level international collaboration to boost disciplinary development and deepen its educational vision of sharing and openness in order to be a globally recognized research university.

The University of California, Berkeley serves as a world’s premier public research university. It is recognized as a major source of future talent. With the mission of teaching, research, and public service, UC Berkeley has earned its top ranking and global reputation through its time-honored history and outstanding academic achievements.