As 2020 comes to an end, it is worth reflecting on what UIC has achieved. The year 2020 has been full of challenges that UIC has managed to turn into opportunities due to the students and staff's enthusiasm and spirit of innovation. This positive attitude has enabled UIC to overcome what looked like insurmountable hurdles.

COVID-19 pandemic
Shortly after the year started, the world was hit by the coronavirus pandemic, which led to UIC's indefinite closure. Quickly, UIC looked for solutions to ensure that activities, including teaching and research, were not stifled. Indeed, it is during the pandemic that UIC displayed its best talents in the fight against COVID-19.
UIC conducted strict temperature checks for all students and staff, implemented social distancing measures on campus, and monitored all students and faculty during the pandemic. Another area that was utilised heavily during the pandemic was online live streaming of classes in addition to guest lectures.

Many classes were taught online during 2020
UIC's 15th anniversary
This year marks the 15th anniversary of UIC. Since opening in 2005, UIC has undergone many changes to become what it is today, a full-fledged, internationally recognised university with a modern and vibrant campus. Attracting faculty from many countries worldwide, UIC has built a solid reputation that has been growing stronger over the past 15 years.

2020 marked UIC's 15th anniversary
Sports Park and second-phase campus
UIC launched its new Sports Park in 2020. The Sports Park has been designed to give staff and students a new outdoor athletic facility. Another massive step that UIC has undertaken is the announcement of the construction of the second-phase campus. During 2020, the Zhuhai Municipal People's Government agreed to give UIC land for the construction of the second-phase campus. With UIC's Jintong Road campus, a new sports park, and with the Huitong village located close by, UIC is on the way to building an authentic university town.

Sports Park

Zhuhai Municipal People's Government and UIC sign agreement for second-phase campus
Global talents
Also during 2020, ShanghaiRanking released a ranking that showed the further study rate of the Class of 2019 among the Chinese mainland university students. UIC was ranked sixth in China, while its study abroad (including SARs) rate was ranked the third highest in the nation. The ranking showed that the top 100 universities where most students went abroad and Hong Kong, Macao and Taiwan for further studies. In addition, UIC was ranked top 100 in high-end talents among the universities in China.

UIC's study abroad rate ranked the third highest in the nation
UIC looks forward to 2021 and hopes it can continue growing and developing more open-minded global talents.

From MPRO
Editors: Samuel Burgess, Deen He, Covee Wang