On June 30, a party of five persons led by Professor Shailaja Fennell of the Development Research Center of the University of Cambridge paid an academic visit lasting four days in Shanghai. During their stay in Shanghai, the delegation made academic exchange with the teacher representatives of the Institute of New Rural Development and the School of International and Public Affairs, and carried out in-depth discussion in terms of the topic about the equality of social status of female migrant workers. The delegation of the University of Cambridge and the teachers of our school also had an informal discussion with the leaders of Shanghai Municipal Women’s Federation and etc. including Vice Chairman Li Rong et al. Chairman Li introduced the work done by Shanghai Municipal Women’s Federation in protecting women’s rights and interests in recent years. Doctor Gao Yan of the Institute of New Rural Development gave a brief introduction to the condition about investigation and research of migrant laborers’ children in Shanghai. The representatives of the University of Cambridge sang high praise for the work and the researches done in Shanghai.

Under the leadership of Director Peter Nolan, the Development Research Center of the University of Cambridge has devoted itself to social issues in developing countries for a long time, and makes in-depth research about the issues of agriculture, farmer and rural area as well as social equality in China. It is reported that the Development Research Center of the University of Cambridge has undertaken the topic about the equality of legal status of female immigrants from the Ministry of Justice of Thailand. The visit to Shanghai aims to seek partner for future research and the respondents of the topic.  

The Institute of New Rural Development of Shanghai Jiaotong University has always showed concern for urban-rural integrated development in urban areas of China for many years. The research about migrant workers and relevant issues has aroused great interest of the Development Research Center of the University of Cambridge. In this visit, both parties specified work which can be jointly carried out recently. It is reported that Professor Shailaja Fennell has been invited to attend the international meeting to be held in Shanghai in October. At that time, she wishes that the Development Research Center of the University of Cambridge and relevant departments of our school can make further cooperation and exchange. Doctor Gao Yan of the Institute of New Rural Development of our school ever benefited from the guidance offered by Professor Shailaja Fennell and earned the doctoral degree of the University of Cambridge, and will undertake main coordination work in future cooperation.

Professor Fennell said that the scholars of the Development Research Center of the University of Cambridge and she have expected to carry out cooperative research about China in such a top university in China like Shanghai Jiaotong University for a long time. The in-depth cooperation with the University of Cambridge will also further promote the progress of internationalization of our school, and improve the research level of social science of our school.