USC hails impact of its Chinese alumni

A visiting delegation of the University of Southern California (USC) hosted an alumni event in Shanghai to showcase USC's recent achievements and accomplishments by Chinese alumni on Friday.

The delegation, led by the university's president Carol L. Folt, was on their first visit to China as part of USC's commitment to fostering collaboration and educational exchange between China and the United States, according to the university.

Bob Iger, CEO of Disney, also participated in the alumni event as a guest speaker at a panel discussion.

The USC president expressed pride and excitement in the university's achievements and the contributions of its Chinese graduates, noting that these individuals have consistently demonstrated outstanding capabilities and made significant impacts in society. She also emphasized the long-standing presence of Chinese students in USC's diverse and innovative community since the early 20th century.

Founded in 1880 and located in Los Angeles, California, USC is renowned for its excellence in various fields such as the sciences, cinematic arts, engineering, communication and journalism, business, architecture, medicine, and gerontology. The USC Annenberg School for Communication and Journalism is globally recognized for its top-ranked programs in communication and media studies.

Willow Bay, dean of the Annenberg School, highlighted USC's commitment to academic and research innovation and said that the school develops "nimble and responsive academic programs" and provides strong support for students' academic and professional development.

USC's strong alumni network, which has over 450,000 members from around the world, has led to the establishment of USC alumni organizations across the globe. In China, USC has the USC China Career Center to support Chinese students and alumni with career guidance, employment counseling, engagement opportunities, as well as career training.

Anthony Bailey, vice-president for Strategic and Global Initiatives, commended the USC China Career Center and its Shanghai-based staff.

"Our comprehensive system encompasses student internships, employment consulting services, online and offline dialogues with global employers, as well as career planning and development support," Bailey said. "Our goal is to empower all USC graduates and alumni to showcase their talents, fulfill their career aspirations, and contribute to society."

USC is currently collaborating with renowned Chinese institutions such as Tsinghua University, Peking University, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, and Shanghai Tech University on various projects related to data science, journalism and communication, healthcare, cinematic arts, and the creative industry.

Folt expressed confidence in the educational exchange between China and the United States.

"China boasts excellent universities and talented, hardworking students. We welcome Chinese students to pursue their studies at USC. We have full confidence in the educational collaboration between China and the United States," she said.