A series of events for the 10th anniversary of the cooperation between SMU and ISCTE were held

On November 23,2019, a series of events for the 10th anniversary of the cooperation between our university and ISCTE-University Institute of Lisbon hosted by the School of Health Management were held.

Li Mengfeng and Zhang Yurun, SMU president and vice president, Andre Cordeiro, Portuguese Consulate General in Guangzhou, Maria Rodrigues and Maria das Dores Guerreiro, ISCTE-IUL president and vice president, Jose Carvalho and Rui Silva, INDEG / ISCTE-IUL president and vice president respectively, Virginia Trigoas, ISCTE-IUL general manager of Chinese programs, Nelson Antonio, the director of doctoral programs, Rui Pena Pires of ISCTE-IUL School of Social Sciences, Jiang Hong of party committee secretary and president of Shantou Universit, Shen Shuguang of National Governance Research Institute of Sun Yat-sen University, and Xia Weidong of Florida International University Business School participated in the events. The events were hosted by Zhang Yurun.

Li Mengfeng pointed out in his speech that, the "Doctor of Management in Healthcare" program jointly managed by Southern Medical University and ISCTE University Institute of Lisbon was China's first and currently the only Chinese-foreign cooperative doctoral program of Management in Healthcare. Looking back on the ten-year history of the cooperation between the two universities, the two universities had established a stable, friendly and high-quality academic cooperation platform and greatly developed the coordination of Chinese-Portuguese higher education in the past ten years. The number of graduates, the quality of thesis, students and teachings of the doctoral program and master program jointly managed by the two universities had significantly improved. Researches of the doctoral candidates focused on the special management problems and general problems in the practice of medical reform in China. The release and publication of their research results were all for promoting and improving multiple policies and measures for the reform of the healthcare industry in China, providing valuable references for peer units in healthcare industry. Li Mengfeng wishes that the cooperation between the two universities will become stronger and broader with a more splendid future.

Ambassador José Augusto Duarte of the Portuguese Embassy in China sent a congratulatory message that the perfect cooperation between ISCTE University Institute of Lisbon and Southern Medical University in the past 10 years was a matter of pride. The exchanges and cooperation between the universities of the two countries can also contribute to enhancing the mutual understanding between citizens of China and Portugal.

The president of ISCTE-IUL summarized the ten-year cooperation of the two universities with “development, harmony, happiness, integrity, dreams, persistence, progress, friendship, and mutual respect”. Through the joint efforts and persistence of the two universities, the major Management in Healthcare jointly managed by the two universities had not only received the authoritative approval from the Chinese and Portuguese Ministry of Education, but also received the approval from the Chinese and Portuguese assessment agencies. She said that education programs would take a long time to blossom with results. People who were engaged in education and training projects must not only to have dreams, but also perseverance and long-term goals. The efforts made today would definitely have a deep and long-term impact on the future.   

Ouyang Ziwen, 2019 doctoral candidate and deputy director of Guangzhou Municipal Health Commission, made a speech as a representative. He made a poem dedicated to the 10th anniversary of the cooperation of his alma mater: "medical talents have been educated and fostered in SMU and ISCTE-IUL for ten years. Graduates are professional and knowledgeable with virtues in different fields".

The second part of the series of events was the academic forum of management with the theme of "Theory and Practice: Wealth & Health". Wang Dong of the School of Health Management of SMU, Jose Carvalho of the INDEG School of ISCTE University Institute of Lisbon, and Shen Shuguang of the National Governance Research Institute of Sun Yat-sen University presented brilliant and professional reports respectively.

In the second part of the forum was the academic salon for doctoral candidates. Representatives of the doctoral candidates discussed topics of "Theory and Practice in the Management of Medical and Health Institutions" and "Theory and Practice in the Healthcare Industry". Participants shared their experiences in practice from different perspectives and positions, and discussed the development direction of the healthcare field under the medical reform, the "Belt and Road" initiative and "Healthy China 2030" strategy in a meaningful manner.

Later at the dinner of the 10th anniversary of the cooperation between SMU and ISCTE-IUL, students of the doctoral and master program presented wonderful performances to celebrate the 10-year cooperation between the two universities. Li Mengfeng awarded a special contribution award to Virginia Trigo, the director of Chinese programs of ISCTE-IUL, for her contribution in the cooperation between the two universities.

Nearly 200 people participated in the events, including leaders of international exchange and cooperation division, development and planning division, student division, academic affairs division, hospital management division, personnel division, general affairs division, alumni office, graduate school, international education college, school of health management, and representatives of directors of department offices, as well as students of the doctoral and master programs jointly managed by the two universities and alumni.