On May 20, the SJTU Paris Elite Institute of Technology (SPEIT) and the East China Normal University Minhang Basic Education Group held the signing ceremony for the joint establishment of the “Descartes Academy” at the Minhang Zizhu Branch of the Second High School Affiliated to East China Normal University. Focusing on the early cultivation needs of innovative top-tier talents during secondary education, the two parties aim to build a progressive platform for students aspiring to engineering and technological innovation, centered on the concepts of “secondary-higher education articulation, science and engineering leadership, and integrated internationalization.” The program will provide middle school students with high-quality university educational resources including engineering enlightenment courses, advanced mathematics and science preparatory courses, scientific research practice, and international exchange opportunities, supporting the growth of outstanding regional talents.
Chen Cailian, Chinese Dean of the SPEIT; Lü Jiangying, Vice Secretary; Yuan Yijia, Assistant to the Dean; Shi Hongliang, Chairman of the ECNU Minhang Basic Education Group; Yan Xi, Principal of ECNU Yongde School; Zhao Chunmei, Secretary of the Minhang Zizhu Branch of the Second High School Affiliated to East China Normal University; Wang Liping, Vice Principal of the Junior High School Affiliated to the Second High School Affiliated to East China Normal University; Meng Fanwei, Director of the Party and Administration Office of the Minhang Zizhu Branch of the Second High School Affiliated to East China Normal University; and Wan Feng, Director of the Curriculum and Teaching Department, jointly attended the signing ceremony.
Geographical Advantages Combined with High-Quality Resources
The SJTU Paris Elite Institute of Technology is a high-level engineering education institution jointly approved by the Chinese and French governments. Upholding the French philosophy of elite engineering education, the institute possesses a strong international faculty and a cutting-edge curriculum system in science and engineering.
The ECNU Minhang Basic Education Group is located in the Zizhu National High-Tech Industrial Development Zone in Minhang District, adjacent to Shanghai Jiao Tong University, and covers the complete educational spectrum from kindergarten to high school.
Through the joint establishment of the “Descartes Academy,” the two parties aim to integrate high-quality educational resources and introduce elements of internationalized engineering education into secondary education, thereby building a pathway for students toward world-class universities.
Systematic Cultivation of Outstanding Talents in Science and Engineering
The SJTU Paris Elite Institute of Technology will assign outstanding faculty members to teach university preparatory courses in mathematics, physics, and engineering fundamentals. The institute will also develop engineering enlightenment courses in fields such as artificial intelligence and mechanical design, while offering progressive French elective courses based on its French-language teaching resources.
Dual-Driven Development Through Scientific Research Practice and International Exchange
The SJTU Paris Elite Institute of Technology will open relevant laboratories to students of the “Descartes Academy,” providing inquiry-based learning opportunities in authentic research environments, supporting students’ participation as research project assistants, and jointly guiding students in domestic and international science and technology innovation competitions.
The two parties will also jointly plan annual study programs in France, providing students with opportunities to visit and exchange with top French universities. Relying on SPEIT’s alumni network and partner university resources, the program will establish a regularized international exchange mechanism.
The establishment of the “Descartes Academy” marks an important step forward in the exploration of secondary-higher education articulation and the early cultivation of internationally oriented outstanding talents. The SJTU Paris Elite Institute of Technology will continue to inject new vitality into the cultivation of top talents with global vision through a series of programs such as the “Xuesen Challenge Program” and the “Dengfeng Program.”