On May 6, a delegation from the University of Genoa, Italy, led by Vice President Paola Dameri and Alessio Tei, Programme Director for Ship Navigation & Technology, visited Shanghai Maritime University. Song Baoru, Chairman of the SMU Council, and Yin Ming, Vice President, met with the guests. Relevant heads from the International Office, Academic Affairs Office, Merchant Marine College, School of Economics and Management, College of Information Engineering, and College of Arts and Sciences attend the meeting.
Song Baoru extended a warm welcome to Vice President Paola Dameri and her delegation. He noted that the University of Genoa has a long history and strong maritime disciplines. The two universities are highly compatible in fields such as shipping, logistics, marine studies, and cruise management, with a solid foundation for cooperation and broad prospects. Since the signing of the cooperation agreement in 2017, exchanges between the two sides have continued to deepen. This visit is of great significance for promoting the quality and upgrading of the cooperation. The university will continue to deepen joint talent cultivation, curriculum co-construction, scientific research cooperation, and the integration of industry and education, working together to build a model of China-Italy maritime education cooperation.
Yin Ming stated that the university attaches great importance to the strategic cooperation with the University of Genoa. The university will deepen cooperation in areas such as faculty exchanges, student mobility, and practical teaching, accelerate the dual improvement in the form and level of cooperation, and continuously enhance the international influence and leadership of both universities in maritime-related fields.
Paola Dameri expressed her gratitude for the warm hospitality. She introduced the educational advantages and disciplinary characteristics of the University of Genoa and spoke highly of the achievements of the cooperation between the two universities. She stated that the University of Genoa attaches great importance to the strategic cooperation with Shanghai Maritime University and is willing to deepen cooperation in fields such as cruise management and navigation technology, jointly accelerate the preparation for the establishment of a joint educational institution, deepen exchanges between faculty and students and joint scientific research, and jointly enhance the international influence and competitiveness of the two universities.
On the afternoon of May 6, Paola Dameri delivered a special academic lecture titled "Smart Cities for Better Living: Comparing Italy and China" for students and faculty. She shared concepts of smart city construction and practical experiences from both Italy and China, which broadened the academic horizons of the students and faculty and promoted international academic exchange. After the lecture, she also visited the University History Museum, the navigation simulator, and the sailing camp.
During her stay in Shanghai, teams from both universities held discussions on cooperation matters, further building consensus and refining measures. Paola Dameri and her delegation also conducted site visits to the North Bund International Cruise Terminal, the Italian Classification Society, and Shanghai Waigaoqiao Shipbuilding Co., Ltd., to fully understand how SMU is deeply involved in the construction of the Shanghai International Shipping Center and contributing to the development of Shanghai's cruise industry.
This visit and discussion have further pushed the cooperation between the two universities towards deeper levels and wider areas, injecting new impetus into the high-quality development of China-Italy maritime education and cultural exchanges.
