SHANGHAI — As fire crackers and confetti exploded behind the backdrop of a red advertisement board, NYU president John Sexton broke ground on construction for NYU Shanghai, the university's newest portal campus. Joining Chinese officials Monday in the Pudong district of Shanghai, Sexton lauded the work the university and its Chinese partners have accomplished.
"This institution will play a major role in establishing the first global network university," Sexton said. "Today's world demands we live in a global community."
The building, which can accommodate up to 3,000 students, will be the central location for the campus. The lot is located on the eastern side of the river dividing Shanghai in two — Puxi to the west and Pudong to the east. Residence halls, dining halls and gym facilities will be located in other buildings around the main building. Though construction on the academic center has just begun, Sexton told WSN last night that dormitory buildings have already been acquired. The university will be closely linked with East China Normal University, the university that NYU currently partners with for its study abroad site in Shanghai.
East China Normal University is a partner NYU's negotiations to open the new campus. ECNU President Yu Lizhong also spoke at the ceremony. "This is undoubtedly a historic moment," Yu said. "[NYU Shanghai] will surely attract numerous outstanding teachers, researchers and students."
Yu said that NYU and ECNU have been discussing the potential for a portal site since 2003 and continuous development to the program led to the groundbreaking ceremony Monday afternoon. Yu added that it is "indeed the support [of the Shanghai municipal government] that has made the idea a reality."
Vice Mayor of Shanghai Shen Jun concluded the ceremony, highlighting the importance of the construction of the NYU Shanghai building and said, "Education should always come first." Shen also hopes the new institution will promote U.S. and Chinese exchanges and will serve as a model for other institutions in China in the future.
Construction worker representatives watched as first steps were made in the physical undertaking of the development of the campus, and Sexton concluded with a message about his hopes for a successful long-term future of collaboration. "[We] look forward to many decades of closer friendship," he said.
Many NYU students are optimistic about the expansion of the university to China and Shanghai in particular. Ijeoma Anyanwu, a Stern junior who is currently studying abroad in Shanghai, attended an event at which Sexton addressed NYU and ECNU students Sunday afternoon.
"Today's world is interconnected and to fully understand it, we must embrace, appreciate and explore cultural diversity," Anyanwu said. "I think that NYU Shanghai has the potential to change the world. It's a great next step for NYU's expansion of its global network."
