In response to President Xi Jinping's call for opening up education and to foster high-level international collaboration and exchange, recently, a delegation from the School of Management, Shandong University, embarked on an international corporation program in Serbia. Led by Li Kang, Deputy Secretary of the Party Committee of the School, and Professor Ding Ronggui from the Department of Project Management and Industrial Engineering, the delegation included 12 representatives from various departments of the School, as well as representatives from EMBA students.
Honoring History and Advocating Peace: A Visit to the Chinese Martyrs’ Monument
On October 1st, the delegation arrived in Belgrade, visited the Chinese Martyrs’ Monument, and paid their respects. The visit was not only a reflection on the past but also a declaration of the commitment to peace, embodying the School’s respect for history and aspiration for harmony. Moreover, it demonstrated the sense of responsibility of educators in promoting friendship between the China and Serbia, and announced that the School will continue to deepen exchanges and cooperation in education, culture, science, and technology between the two countries.
Cultural Exchange: Visiting the Chinese Cultural Center and Confucius Institute
The delegation visited the Chinese Cultural Center in Belgrade to engage in Sino-Serbian cultural exchange. The Center is established by the Chinese government and is also the first Chinese culture center in the Western Balkans, aiming to promote traditional Chinese culture and enhance international understanding and friendship. Under the guidance of Center Director Zhang Aimin, the delegation explored the operations and cultural activities of the Center, which included Chinese calligraphy, painting, tea culture, and martial arts.
The delegation also engaged in discussions with Associate Professor Wu Peng, the Chinese Director of the Confucius Institute at the University of Belgrade dispatched by Shandong University. Wu highlighted the significant role of the institute in Serbia’s education system, which offered Chinese language education and promoted in-depth cooperation in education by hosting various academic lectures and seminars. Furthermore, it’s committed to nurturing local Chinese language teacher, playing a crucial role in promoting the long-term development of Sino-Serbian educational cooperation.
Academic Seminar: Collaborative Discussions on International Practices
An international academic seminar on“Cross-Cultural Leadership and the Cultivation of High-end International Management Talents” was held at Faculty of Organizational Sciences, University of Belgrade. Participants included 11 faculty members and one EMBA student from the School, five faculty members from the Business School, Hehai University, officials from Serbia’s Ministry of Science, Professor Milan Martic, Dean of the Faculty of Organizational Sciences, Professor Vladimir Obradovic, Dean of the Department, Associate Professor Marija Todorovic, and other team members. Discussions focused on cultivating cross-cultural leadership skills and advancing international scientific research cooperation in the context of globalization.
The delegation also held talks with the Vice Rector for International Cooperation at the University of Belgrade, discussing cooperation in scientific research, academic exchanges, and other related fields. Both sides expressed a desire to deepen cooperation in organizational sciences and management studies under the framework of the Belt and Road Initiative. The aim is to jointly develop globally competent management professionals and contribute to the economic development of both China and Serbia, as well as the region.
During the discussion session, Vladimir shared the attempts and challenges faced by the Faculty of Organizational Sciences in internationalizing education, and researchers from the University of Belgrade presented their latest findings. In the group discussion session, participating scholars engaged in exchanges on topics such as“Leadership Challenges in the International Business Environment”,“Conflict and Resolution Strategies in Cross-Cultural Communication” and “Strategic Management in a Global Context”. Representatives from Power Construction Corporation of China (Serbia), Shandong High-Speed Group International (Europe), and Zijin Mining Group (Serbia) were invited to share their experiences with investment projects in Serbia. They discussed practical insights into Chinese enterprises’ overseas operations and management strategies. The delegation also visited Shandong High-speed Group International (Europe), where they had in-depth exchanges with Chairman Wei Yiming and several alumni from Shandong University, and conducted on-site inspections of the company’s projects in Serbia. Additionally, the delegation, accompanied by faculty members from the Faculty of Organizational Sciences at the University of Belgrade, visited Huawei Technologies’ Serbia branch for in-depth exchanges on cross-cultural leadership and overseas operations. At the closing ceremony, Vladimir awarded certificates of completion to the participating faculty and students. As the delegation leader, Li delivered a summary of the program and expressed sincere gratitude to the Faculty of Organizational Sciences for the hospitality and support.
This international corporation program further strengthened the complementary advantages and cooperative relationship between the School and the Faculty of Organizational Sciences, injecting new vitality into the process of educational internationalization. It marked a significant step in building a closer regional education cooperation network between the two parties and promoting the implementation of the Belt and Road Initiative.
