The delegation was led by Marie-Laure Salles, Director of the Institute, with Achim Wennmann, Director for Strategic Partnerships, and Jan Kiely, Professor of International History and Politics. Over one week, they met university leaders, faculty and students at six of China’s leading universities:
- Shanghai International Studies University (SISU)
- Fudan University
- The University of Hong Kong (HKU): Faculties of Social Sciences, Arts and Medicine
- China Foreign Affairs University (CFAU)
- Renmin University of China
- Peking University (PKU)
At a time when fragmentation and a crisis of trust are reshaping international relations, Universities have a particular responsibility to sustain dialogue across borders. International partnerships are not only about academic exchange; they are investments in mutual understanding, shared knowledge, and the capacity to address global challenges together. This is what we have been standing for at the Geneva Graduate Institute for close to a century.
— Marie-Laure Salles, Director
China and Europe in a Fractured World
A highlight of the visit was a public fireside chat at the Asia Society Hong Kong Center with Ronnie C. Chan on “China and Europe in a Fractured World”. Marie-Laure Salles and Achim Wennmann discussed how Europe and China can keep dialogue and cooperation alive at a time of geopolitical fragmentation. The conversation continued an exchange that began when Ronnie C. Chan visited Geneva on 28 September 2026 as part of the Director’s Global Leadership for Peace Series. The same theme framed an academic roundtable with Europe specialists at SISU in Shanghai.
New and Stronger Partnerships
The visit built on Alexia Lima, International Programmes Coordinator earlier visit in February 2026 and produced concrete results for students and faculty:
- SISU: Steps towards a comprehensive partnership covering a Memorandum of Understanding, student exchange and a BA/MA pathway.
- Fudan University: student exchange places doubled from two to four, with work under way on a BA/MA pathway.
- HKU: Implementation of the new BA/MA pathway with the Faculty of Arts, signed in 2026, and progress towards a Memorandum of Understanding and BA/MA pathway with the Faculty of Medicine, alongside the long-standing partnership with the Faculty of Social Sciences.
- CFAU: Places on the BA/MA pathway doubled from six to twelve, so each CFAU department can now nominate up to two students.
- Renmin University of China: A Memorandum of Understanding as a first step in a new relationship.
Our partners in China bring deep expertise on global governance, diplomacy, and Asia’s role in the world. These agreements give our students and researchers more ways to learn from that expertise, and to build the trust that international cooperation depends on.
— Achim Wennmann, Director for Strategic Partnerships
AI and the Future of Transnational Education
In Beijing, Marie-Laure Salles joined Deans from around the world at a roundtable on technological transformation and transnational education. The roundtable marked the 30th anniversary of the School of International Studies at Peking University, a partner of the Institute since 2013. The discussion focused on the challenges that artificial intelligence poses for international higher education. In Beijing, the delegation was also received for lunch by the Swiss Ambassador to China.
Meeting Alumnae·i
In Shanghai, Hong Kong, and Beijing, the Institute’s alumnae·i chapters hosted gatherings in honour of the visit. These gave the delegation a chance to reconnect with graduates who now work in government, business, consulting, and international affairs across the region.
The discussions were important, rich, and meaningful. We are grateful to our partners for their exceptional welcome, and to our alumni in the region for their impressive energy.
— Marie-Laure Salles, Director