In the era of the knowledge economy and globalization, world-class universities play a crucial role in cultivating talent as well as generating, disseminating, and applying knowledge. They form a vital foundation for strengthening national capabilities and enhancing global competitiveness. Over the past three decades, promoting academic excellence has been high on the policy agenda of stakeholders around the world, turning the pursuit into a “world-class” movement.

Since 2005, the Center for World-Class Universities of Shanghai Jiao Tong University has successfully initiated and hosted the International Conference on World-Class Universities (WCU). Each of the nine conferences held to date has focused on timely and important issues related to world-class universities and academic excellence. Over time, the WCU conferences have evolved into a leading international platform for advancing dialogue and research on academic excellence.Since 2005, the Center for World-Class Universities of Shanghai Jiao Tong University has successfully initiated and hosted the International Conference on World-Class Universities (WCU). Each of the nine conferences held to date has focused on timely and important issues related to world-class universities and academic excellence. Over time, the WCU conferences have evolved into a leading international platform for advancing dialogue and research on academic excellence.

Since its founding in 2020, the School of Education of Shanghai Jiao Tong University has organized the Shanghai Forum for Education Excellence (SFEE). The past three forums have explored pressing and globally relevant issues in educational excellence. The forum has attracted wide participation from internationally renowned scholars and experts, both online and in person, to explore the future of global education through multidisciplinary perspectives.

The year 2025 will mark a special occasion, as the 4th Shanghai Forum for Education Excellence (SFEE-4) and the 10th International Conference on World-Class Universities (WCU-10) will be jointly held at Shanghai Jiao Tong University from November 15th to 16th, 2025. The theme of the joint conference is “World-Class Universities: Promoting Global Common Good (GCG).”

Amid a shifting global landscape and the pressing challenges of sustainable development, world-class universities are called upon to play a more active and leading role in promoting global common good. This conference will focus on several key topics, including exploring the global mission of world-class universities, evaluating their roles in serving global common good, promoting global talent mobility and collaboration, and enhancing knowledge transformation globally.Amid a shifting global landscape and the pressing challenges of sustainable development, world-class universities are called upon to play a more active and leading role in promoting global common good. This conference will focus on several key topics, including exploring the global mission of world-class universities, evaluating their roles in serving global common good, promoting global talent mobility and collaboration, and enhancing knowledge transformation globally.