On October 15, 2025, the SJTU Paris Elite Institute of Technology (SPEIT) and the School of Foreign Languages of Shanghai Jiao Tong University held a “Symposium on Cooperation in the Construction of the French Major and Curriculum” in Room 211 of the SPEIT Building.
Participants included Cao Hui, Head of the French Major at the School of Foreign Languages; Lu Jialiang, Vice Dean of SPEIT; Fredy TABOURIN, Head of French Language Instruction at SPEIT; as well as more than ten Chinese and French faculty members and administrative staff from both schools. The meeting was chaired by Lu Jialiang.
At the meeting, Lu Jialiang, on behalf of SPEIT, extended a warm welcome to all colleagues from the School of Foreign Languages and introduced the participants from both sides. He noted that the current development of the French major faces both challenges and opportunities.
He emphasized that SPEIT and the School of Foreign Languages have already established a solid foundation for cooperation in cultivating French language talents. He expressed hope that both sides would further deepen collaboration in areas such as the construction of the French major, joint curriculum design, coordinated student training, innovative talent development models, and interdisciplinary integration. Together, they aim to promote the high-quality development of the French major and nurture more multilingual, interdisciplinary professionals.
Fredy TABOURIN shared insights into the current situation of the French program at SPEIT, including its faculty team and distinctive teaching features.
Cao Hui gave a comprehensive introduction to the history of French teaching at the School of Foreign Languages, curriculum design, faculty composition, exploration of AI empowerment, and requirements for teaching and research.
During the discussion session, both parties agreed to leverage their respective strengths and characteristics to jointly explore the deep integration of emerging technologies—such as artificial intelligence—with language education. This would further enhance students’ learning initiative and improve teaching effectiveness.
To broaden students’ international vision and cross-cultural communication skills, the two schools also plan to jointly create a rich French cultural atmosphere through themed cultural events, speech contests, and other activities, thereby building a multidimensional and immersive educational environment.
Promoting interdisciplinary integration emerged as a key highlight of this cooperation. Both sides agreed on the need to break down disciplinary barriers and encourage students from diverse academic backgrounds—such as medicine and engineering—to actively participate in interdisciplinary forums and innovation projects. They also plan to strengthen collaboration in undergraduate thesis supervision and overseas exchange programs.
Looking ahead, the two schools will integrate their superior resources and jointly plan master’s and doctoral programs in applied linguistics and interdisciplinary studies combining the humanities and engineering. The goal is to cultivate well-rounded, leading talents capable of meeting future challenges.
This cooperative exchange forms an important part of SPEIT’s “Educational Philosophy Discussion” series and serves as a pragmatic step in promoting the development of the French major and innovation in interdisciplinary education. Both sides will accelerate the implementation of cooperation plans and translate discussion outcomes into concrete actions, jointly contributing to the cultivation of top innovative talents for the new era.