The University of Michigan has announced it will terminate its longstanding partnership with Shanghai Jiao Tong University in China, ending a two-decade academic collaboration between the two institutions.
President Santa J. Ono confirmed the decision Jan. 10 following discussions with U.S. congressional leadership and internal U-M stakeholders.
The move follows a recent report from the House Select Committee on the Strategic Competition Between the United States and the Chinese Communist Party concerned with national security, and a letter from committee chair U.S. Rep. John Moolenaar, R-Michigan, communicating his concerns that the partnership had been compromised.
“International academic partnerships have deeply enriched our academic offerings and strengthened the global education of our students, and we will continue to pursue partnerships around the world as part of our academic mission,” Ono said. “As we do so, we must also prioritize our commitment to national security.”
U-M’s partnership with SJTU involved a joint institute that has placed American and Chinese students at U-M and in China. Established in 2005, the UM-SJTU Joint Institute stands out among international education institutes for offering engineering degree programs accredited by the Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology, with all courses taught in English and almost all students pursuing an international education experience.
Over the past two decades, the partnership has facilitated numerous academic exchanges, including dual-degree programs, scholarships and study-abroad opportunities. Overall, the SJTU has offered global learning experiences to more than 1,000 undergraduate students from U-M and other institutions.
University administrators working with the joint institute emphasized that current students enrolled in its programs will be able to complete their degrees without disruptions related to this separation.
The decision reflects broader changes in the landscape of international academic cooperation, particularly between U.S. and Chinese institutions. U-M reaffirmed its commitment to maintaining rigorous standards for international collaborations while ensuring compliance with national security considerations.
In light of the partnership’s dissolution, Ono emphasized the importance of international education and the essential role of international students, faculty and staff on U-M’s campus.
“International experiences are vital for our students in this interconnected world,” he said. “We remain committed to supporting U-M’s international students and will continue to foster international partnerships that advance knowledge and cross-cultural understanding and ensure our campus remains a vibrant community where scholars from around the world can thrive.”
