On 24 June 2013, the opening ceremony for the 4-week ShanghaiSummer School Oceania Program was held at the Gubei Campus of theShanghai University of International Business and Economics(SUIBE). The ceremony was attended by 40 students from sevenuniversities in Australia, New Zealand, Fiji, and Vanuatu.
In her opening address at the ceremony, Ms. Xu Xiaowei, VicePresident of SUIBE, pointed out that SUIBE has always attachedgreat importance to developing an extensive and close partnershipwith universities in Oceania such as Australia and New Zealand, forexample, the academic cooperation between SUIBE and Royal MelbourneInstitute of Technology (RMIT) over the past decade. In particular,the Center for Australian Studies at SUIBE has played an activerole in promoting friendship between the two countries, especiallyin the fields of education, research and cultural exchanges.
The Shanghai Summer School Oceania Program, which has now run intoits third year, is developed to enhance the interaction betweenstudents in China and Oceania, helping students from Oceania tobetter understand China, Shanghai, universities in Shanghai, andstudents in Shanghai.
During their stay in Shanghai, the students from Oceania willattend business lectures, learn the Chinese language, experiencethe Chinese culture, visit places of historic interests, andinteract with Chinese students.