Time flies so fast that the SSC has already completed its first four years. The past year, 2015, has allowed for new chapters in the development of the SSC: new exchange programs are consolidating, cooperation between faculty continues to strengthen, the “high-level experts” program has made significant progress, the new dual-degree programs have been successfully launched, and the International Conference on City Sciences (ICCS) also took place with considerable impact. All of this allows us to be fully confident in the work of the Sino-Hispanic Campus and the exchanges in culture, society, technology, and education it facilitates. In addition to this teaching and research collaboration, the establishment of innovation and entrepreneurship courses, language and culture events, and the urban architecture lecture program for Spain have also borne fruit. Furthermore, in Madrid and at the Shanghai Urban Planning Museum, Tongji students demonstrate with their skill with the brush how they see Spain through their own eyes, attracting the attention of the media on both sides. We increasingly view Spain and the cities of the Spanish-speaking world with familiarity: Madrid, Barcelona, Seville, but also Buenos Aires in Argentina, Mexico City, Santiago de Chile, and Havana in Cuba. All of these cities, their architecture, culture, science, technology, and education are offered to students and teachers from Tongji and China through the SSC platform. At the same time, the areas and countries of cooperation are constantly expanding, and with this hope, we are fulfilling the goal of connecting all the Hispanic countries of the world from and to Spain.
Looking back over the past four years, there have been and are many leaders, colleagues, comrades, and friends who help and support us. Although we now offer a modest and sincere thank you to all of them, we hope that during the upcoming fifth anniversary of SSC next year, they will be able to share with us the results achieved and participate in exchange and cooperation activities. Let’s continue to strive together for the SSC and the opportunities it represents for both parties!
