SIGNAL: SINO-ISRAEL GLOBAL NETWORK &ACADEMIC LEADERSHIP
http://en.sino-israel.org/
SIGNAL, Sino-Israel Global Network & Academic Leadership, (中 以 学术 交流促进协会) is an action-oriented institute enhancing China’s and Israel’s strategic, diplomatic, cultural and economic relationship through high level interchange. SIGNAL has established significant, long-term alliances between China and Israel that serve as the foundation for mutually beneficial and broad-based cooperation between the two nations.
Aims and Objectives
SIGNAL, Sino-Israel Global Network & Academic Leadership, was founded with the aim of focusing on the realm of academia to enhance China’s and Israel’s strategic, diplomatic, cultural and economic relations. Significant, long-term academic alliances between China and Israel will surely cement and promote mutually beneficial and broad-based cooperation between the two nations.
China’s importance on the global scene cannot be overemphasized. Israel excels in innovation and creative solutions. Thus far, the absence of an established platform for leading professors and academic analysts in Israel and China to exchange views and knowledge on the intellectual plane has undoubtedly limited the kind of concentrated, innovative thought and cooperation that can advance local and global stability. A well-conceived program that opens an ongoing academic dialogue between these two nations, which share so many historical, cultural and contemporary parallels, is therefore bound to engender tectonic, positive changes.
Both China and Israel realize they have much to gain by enhancing their academic relations. Scholars, leaders of academic institutions and experts from both nations have expressed great interest in developing closer academic ties through SIGNAL’s various programs, such as:
The Virtual Resource Center – the first Chinese-language source of both introductory and scholarly materials on Israel and its people.
The historic establishment of the first Israel Studies Program (ISP) at a Chinese university – Sichuan International Studies University in Chongqing.
A series of China-Israel strategic studies seminars, conferences and workshops.
Scholar and student exchanges, promoting the pursuit of academic degrees in Israel by Chinese and in China by Israelis, facilitating relationships between Israeli and Chinese authors and publishers, and many more programs.
Israel Studies Programs:
SIGNAL established the first Israel Studies Programs (ISPs) at universities in China. During 2011-2012, SIGNAL opened ISPs in cooperation with Sichuan International Studies University (SISU) in Chongqing, Henan University in Kaifeng, Shanghai International Studies University (SHISU) in Shanghai and Shihezi University in Shihezi, Xinjiang. Each program is customized to the specific character of the university and the province to engage students and faculty in the study of the modern State of Israel and its people in the most effective manner.
SIGNAL sponsored Israel Studies research paper competitions expose an ever-growing number of students to the modern Jewish State. For a full semester, under faculty supervised research, the students focus on a range of topics including Israel’s history, society, culture and politics.
Sichuan International Studies University:
The first Israel Studies research paper competition spanned from November 2010 to October 2011. Over 150 students submitted abstracts to participate in the competition. 76 were accepted. Each had a faculty supervisor. The event celebrating the competition winners took place in Oct. 2011.There were 26 winners – 1 first place – 10 second place and 15 third place winners.
ISU’s ISP in November 2012 held its second annual Israel Studies research paper competition and is currently planning its third research paper competition.
The ISP’s faculty includes professors and lecturers who studied at Bar Ilan University through SIGNAL’s ISP Lecturers’ Training Program in 2011 and 2012. Chen Guangmeng, who attended the Yad Vashem seminar and ISP training program in 2012, and Wu Bing, who attended in 2011, will start teaching at the SISU ISP in January 2013.
Lecturers at SISU last year included: Saul Singer, Ghil’ad Zuckermann, Elana Gomel, Yaakov Kirschen, and Joel Gereboff.
Henan University:
Henan University is located in East Central China, in Kaifeng, home to China’s ancient Jewish community established over one millennium ago. Henan is also home to China’s Hui Muslim minority. The university was formed at the turn of the century with the aim to train its students in Western thought and preparation for study abroad. Since the early 2000s, their main drive has been to further internationalize the university through student exchange. Today, it sends the most students of any university in China to overseas universities. Henan University has one of the country’s most successful Jewish Studies Programs. As in other universities, the Jewish Studies program plays a fundamental role in providing a structure for the nascent ISP.
Shanghai International Studies University:
SHISU’s ISP is built on a strongly established Jewish Studies program. Israel Studies therefore can quickly gain traction as they are building on an existing awareness of the Jewish people. During the Spring semester of 2013, SHISU will conduct a SIGNAL sponsored weekly lecture series; a different Chinese, Shanghai based scholar will give a talk each week on Israel Studies. All the scholars have studied in Israel and will lecture on topics specific to their research of Israel Studies. Scholars include: Liang Pingan and Niu Song from SHISU; Jin Liangxiang from Shanghai Institute for International Studies(SIIS); and Yu Weidong, Wang Shuming and Wang Zhen from Shanghai Academy of Social Sciences.
Shihezi University:
The 1st Israel Studies Essay Competition spanned the entire fall semester with the award ceremony being held on Nov. 21st. Over 60 students attended the award ceremony and 29 papers were submitted.
ISP Lecturers Training program
The Israel Studies Lecturers Training Program provides Chinese lecturers a comprehensive overview of Israel Studies, so upon graduation they can return to their home universities and teach what they learned.
Shortly after their return, lecturers who participated in the program embark on a lecture tour around China to explain their experience in Israel and encourage students and faculty around China to become involved in Israel Studies.
The 4 month long Israel studies experience begins in October with a 19-day Holocaust seminar at Israeli Holocaust Museum, Yad Vashem in Jerusalem. The three week seminar at Yad Vashem represents a shared understanding that promoting Israel studies is a crucial endeavor.
Over the course of 3 months, Chinese scholars are exposed to the highest scholarship on Israel Studies through private classes given by the best academics in the field. Despite the limited time the students manage to cover wide areas of study ranging from the early Jewish settlement during the mandate period to the development of the ‘Sabra’ identity. Real life experiences serve an invaluable role in shaping a person’s perspective of a place so SIGNAL also encourages the students to live the history, culture, sights and sounds of Israel through group trips from the Negev in the south to the Galilee in the north.
On January 13th, 2013 the 2nd class of Chinese lecturers celebrated their graduation from the ISP Lecturers Training Program.
The second class of lecturers was made up of educators from universities currently working with SIGNAL. Dr. Chen Guangmeng, Dr. Ai Rengui and Ms. Esther Bai represented Sichuan International Studies, Henan University, and China University of Petroleum, respectively.
Sino-Israeli Research Centers:
Center for Contemporary Sino Israel Studies (CCSIS), founded by SIGNAL and Shanghai Jiaotong University, is the world’s premier China-Israel research center focusing on comparative politics and strategic analysis. CCSIS, based at Shanghai Jiaotong University, the “Princeton of China”, focuses on policy oriented research as well as interdisciplinary projects, capitalizing on SJTU’s diverse fields of expertise from international relations to space science.
CCSIS received official sanction from China’s Ministry of Education in the second half of this year, and will enjoy governmental funding as the center grows.
About: Shanghai Jiaotong University
Since the reform and opening up policy in China, SJTU has taken the lead in management reform of institutions for higher education, regaining its vigor and vitality with an unprecedented momentum of growth.
Today SJTU has 31 schools (departments), 63 undergraduate programs, 250 masters-degree programs, 203 Ph.D. programs, 28 post-doctorate programs, and 11 state key laboratories and national engineering research centers.
About: School of International and Public Relations
The SJTU School of International and Public Affairs (SIPA), established in 2003 and located in the heart of downtown Shanghai, has developed into one of the most influential and international schools in political science and public administration in China.
SIPA consists of four departments: the Department of Comparative Politics, the Department of Public Administration, the Department of International Relations, and the Department of Public Economics & Social Policy. The Dean of the school is Professor HU Wei, a prominent Chinese political scientist.
About: Dean Hu Wei
Dr. Hu Wei is a distinguished professor at Shanghai Jiao Tong University (SJTU), the “Princeton of China”, the founding dean of SJTU School of International and Public Affairs (SIPA), and vice president of Shanghai Federation of Social Sciences. He is also concurrent professor at China National School of Administration (CNSA), and a visiting research fellow at the University of New South Wales (UNSW) in Australia. Before serving Shanghai Jiao Tong University, he was one of the youngest full professors in social sciences at Fudan University, and deputy director of Fudan Institute of Politics and Public Administration (1995-2000).
As a leading professor of Government in China, he holds many major academic titles, such as vice president of China National Association for International Studies (CNAIS), standing director of Chinese Political Science Association and Chinese Leadership Association, vice president of Shanghai Public Administration Society, vice chairman of Shanghai Political Science Association and Shanghai Leadership Association, member of the Higher Education Directory Commission of the PRC Ministry of Education. Moreover, he serves as policy-making consultant for both Shanghai Municipal Government and the People’s Congress.
Nation to Nation Networking:
To achieve an immediate effect, SIGNAL aims to reach the elite scholars of China who impact Chinese policy and provide a platform for these influential Chinese and Israeli scholars to share ideas and analyses on subjects of pressing mutual interest and concern. SIGNAL achieves this through hosting delegations in Israel, establishing joint research projects and conducting strategic dialogues in China and Israel.
Through Conferences and Symposiums, Briefings, and Delegation visits, Joint research SIGNAL ensures an all-important continuous presence in China.
Conferences & Symposium:
In 2012, SIGNAL hosted and participated in geo-strategic and academic conferences across China. These academic gatherings serve to create strong relationships between Israeli and Chinese policy advisors on an intellectual and personal level. The result is a more free and frank exchange of ideas where Chinese scholars and experts can gain broader understandings of the Middle East.
November 2012
SIGNAL was invited to participate in the conference hosted by the China Center for
Contemporary World Studies (CCCWS) entitled “The Contemporary World Multilateral Dialogue: The Changing World and China in Development”.
CCCWS is the research center for China’s National Security Office and is based within the Internal Affairs department. Wielding great influence in Foreign affairs decision making, CCCWS is integral to the internal affairs department and is a relevant example of how government and Party employ academia.
June 2012
SIGNAL co-hosted the premier Israel Studies Conference with Bar Ilan University, Shanghai International Studies University (SHISU) and Fudan University. Approximately 75 leading Israeli and Chinese scholars as well as Israeli and Chinese executives and energy experts presented at the conference. The conference featured 3 special panels: The place of Innovation in Sino-Israeli Business, The strategic importance of Oil Alternatives, and a closed session on Energy Security.
September 2011
SIGNAL held the first China-Israel Strategy & Security Symposium. It was the first time scholars from China and Israel gathered to discuss issues of mutual interest and concern. The event was co-hosted by the Center for Global Research in international affairs at the Herzliya Interdisciplinary Center (IDC). It marked the largest delegation of leading Chinese scholars to visit Israel. In fact, SIGNAL’s Chinese guests noted that this was the largest group of senior level Chinese academics to ever attend any conference outside China.
Top-tier experts, opinion leaders and scholars from China and Israel were able to freely and openly discuss sensitive issues in foreign policy. Topics included bilateral counter-terrorism approaches, the spread of radical Islam, responses to revolutionary upheavals in the Middle East, ‘other nation’ interference in China-Israel bilateral relations, new strategies for natural resource exploitation in the Middle East and the influence of China’s foreign policy planning within the context of its economic development.
Briefings, and Delegation-SIGNAL Sino-Israeli Strategic Dialogues :
During 2012 SIGNAL conducted bi-monthly strategic dialogues in China with research institutes and academic institutions that provide analyses and policy recommendations to the Party and the government. The briefings provide a more accurate understanding of Israel and the region.
1.THE INSTITUTE FOR INTERNATIONAL STRATEGIC STUDIES (IISS) under The Party School of the Central Committee of the C.P.C – The Party School of the Communist Party of China (CCPS) is the most influential center in China. It provides advanced diplomatic training to all party officials and is currently headed by China’s next President Xi Jinping.
2. CHINA INSTITUTE FOR CONTEMPORARY INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS (CICIR) – Affiliated with China’s Ministry of State Security (MSS) and overseen by the Central Committee of the Communist Party, CICIR, with over 400 researchers, is one of the leading institutes in China, providing policy recommendations to the State Council.
3.CHINESE ACADEMY OF SOCIAL SCIENCES (CASS), The Institute of West-Asian and African Studies and the Shanghai National Institute of International Strategy – CASS is a leading Chinese research center that provides policy recommendations to the State Council.
4. PLA CHINA STRATEGY CULTURE PROMOTION ASSOCIATION – Institute for Strategic Studies of the National Defense University – The China Strategy Culture Promotion
Association is a research institute under the direct auspices of the Central Military Commission, one of five main decision making bodies of China.
5. XINHUA NEWS AGENCY – WORLD AFFAIRS STUDIES CENTER – The World Affairs
Studies Center provides original research in the field of international relations to its affiliated Xinhua News Agency and to China’s Politburo. Its research is supplied directly to the Communist Party’s leaders. The President of the Center personally advises the PRC’s Standing Committee of Nine, the body that runs China
6. CPC CHINA CENTER FOR CONTEMPORARY WORLD STUDIES (CCCWS) – As the research center for China’s National Security Office, it wields great influence in Foreign affairs decision-making. It’s Director General, H.E. Mr. Yu Hongjun, is also Deputy Minister of International Affairs of the Central Committee of CPC.
7. FOREIGN AFFAIRS COMMITTEE OF CHINA’S NATIONAL PEOPLE’S CONGRESS
8. DEPARTMENT OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS AT CHINESE FOREIGN MINISTRY
SIGNAL is advancing joint research and strategic briefings with universities and research centers across Israel and China:
Joint Research:
Transportation Energy Security and Oil Alternatives: This project is a joint effort among leaders in this field in China and Israel. SIGNAL, the Institute for International Strategic Studies (IISS) at the Central Party School (CCPS) and The Israeli Institute for Economic Planning (IEP) are researching the risks of oil dependency in relation to financial and political stability. The project is investigating the potential of Oil Alternative technologies.
Israel Resource Center:
SIGNAL established the first Chinese language, on-line academic resource center, providing introductory to scholarly material on Israel and its people to redress misconceptions by offering accurate and easily accessible information. The IRC provides real and present support to students and faculty participating in SIGNAL’s Israel Studies Programs.
This Israel Resource Center includes essays and articles about Israeli society, economy, technological innovation, religion, culture and history; an opportunity to ask an Israeli expert specific questions; and information on studying abroad in Israel.
Some of the renowned authors featured on the IRC include ambassador Dr. Dore Gold, Prof. Barry Rubin, Prof. Robert Aumann, and more.
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