University of Sydney Sets Up A Center in Shanghai

The University of Sydney has moved its center in China from Suzhou to Shanghai, with the new location in the downtown Xuhui District officially unveiled on Tuesday.

The center is housed in a newly refurbished building on Yongjia Road. It will officially open in June.

The university established its first center in China in Suzhou in 2016, marking its first significant offshore facility outside Australia.

Mark Scott, vice-chancellor and president of the University of Sydney, noted that the Suzhou center fostered key partnerships, built stable local operations, and laid a solid foundation for mutual understanding across regions.

He emphasized that the relocation to Shanghai signifies much more than a simple move; it represents a strategic repositioning aimed at expanding the university's reach, influence, and bilateral engagement with China.

He said the new space will improve alumni career support, strengthen ties with Chinese institutional partners, and build trust with local universities and industry leaders while helping graduates overcome linguistic, cultural, and technological barriers.

The university has over 80,000 alumni across China.

Jenni Zhao, the executive director and general manager of the University of Sydney's China Center, called the new Shanghai hub a welcoming environment for students before, during, and after their studies. It will also connect Australian education to local employment opportunities.

Leisa Sargeant, dean of the University of Sydney Business School, stated that the strategic shift to Shanghai creates greater potential to align academic education with real-world industry evolution.

This includes fast-growing fields such as artificial intelligence, digital transformation and green technological innovation.