Wang Lin, dean of the Hainan University–Arizona State University International College (HAIC), led a delegation to Hangzhou, Zhejiang province, from Sept 28 to 29, for a specialized research visit. 

The trip aimed to accelerate the high-quality development of the college’s e-commerce program, deepen industry-education integration and strengthen international talent cultivation. 

The delegation visited Alibaba Business School at Hangzhou Normal University on Sept 28 to discuss disciplinary development and industry-academia-research collaboration. During the meeting, Wang introduced the history and strengths of the HAIC’s international cooperative programs and expressed her willingness to collaborate in talent cultivation, joint curriculum development and faculty exchanges. Zhang Jianlin, executive dean of Alibaba Business School, shared the school’s experience in international education, overseas student recruitment and employment and collaborative education with enterprises. The two sides engaged in discussions on cross-border e-commerce program development and international talent training pathways, reaching a preliminary consensus on their future collaboration. 

Delegation members also visited Alibaba’s global headquarters to gain insights into the group’s growth trajectory and corporate culture. At a meeting with Alibaba representatives, the delegation learned about the progress of the eWTP (Electronic World Trade Platform) project and its achievements in global e-commerce talent cultivation and industry-academia-research collaboration. 

Wang expressed her hope of leveraging the experience of Alibaba International Digital Commerce Group in digital trade to innovate school-enterprise cooperation in talent development. Vice-Dean Zhang Xianfeng proposed the joint establishment of an eWTP (Hainan) digital trade industry collaborative center, emphasizing the integration of resources to build a high-level digital trade talent hub based in Hainan with a global perspective. 

The discussions covered multiple dimensions, including course development, case studies, faculty training, joint training base construction, overseas study programs, collaborative research projects and digital trade research and dissemination, laying the foundation for subsequent substantive cooperation. 

The delegation continued its industry study on Sept 29 by attending the fourth Global Digital Trade Expo. They explored the latest trends in embodied intelligence, large models and digital commerce ecosystems to grasp new opportunities in global digital trade. 

A trip to the national-level e-commerce demonstration base, the East E-Commerce Park, enabled delegation members to investigate its innovative practices in the integration of cross-border e-commerce and digital fashion, as well as cultural and creative industry empowerment. This visit further expanded their understanding of the full digital trade industry chain. 

This research visit represents an important step made by the HAIC in advancing high-level Sino-foreign cooperative education and disciplinary development. By engaging with benchmark institutions and industry-leading enterprises, the college gained insights into the latest trends and talent demands in the digital trade sector, expanding opportunities for university-enterprise and inter-university collaboration. 

Looking ahead, the HAIC will continue to deepen cooperation with leading enterprises such as Alibaba in curriculum co-development, faculty sharing and practical training base construction, strengthening the “Program + Industry + Internationalization” integrated cultivation model. 

Leveraging this opportunity, the college aims to further optimize its disciplinary layout, integrate emerging technologies such as artificial intelligence and big data with e-commerce education and build a forward-looking and adaptable digital trade talent cultivation system to provide the Hainan Free Trade Port with more globally minded, digitally savvy and innovative trade professionals.

Wang Lin (second from right), dean of the HAIC, Zhang Xianfeng (first from left), vice-dean of the HAIC, and Xu Jiahong from the Department of E-Commerce (first from right) pose for a photo with Liu Qiang, director of Alibaba Group’s Global Business Office and eWTP International Digital Talent Training at Alibaba’s global headquarters. [Photo/WeChat account: HAIC] 

Wang Lin (C), dean of the HAIC, Zhang Xianfeng (first from left), vice-dean of the HAIC, and Xu Jiahong from the Department of E-Commerce pose for a photo at the exhibition hall of the fourth Global Digital Trade Expo. [Photo/WeChat account: HAIC]