To gain deeper insights into the talent needs of the language services industry, enhance the quality of industry-academia collaborative education, and broaden graduate employment channels, a faculty-student team from the English (Sci-Tech Translation) program recently conducted enterprise visits. The team visited the Shanghai National Convention and Exhibition Center, Shanghai Linguitronics Co., Ltd., and Bank of Ningbo’s Shanghai Branch. This initiative not only established a direct dialogue platform between the academic community and the industry but also pinpointed talent cultivation directions, laying a foundation for deepening industry-education integration and optimizing the curriculum setup. Moving forward, both sides will continue to strengthen cooperation to enhance graduates’ competitiveness on the talent market.
A Visit to Shanghai National Convention Center: Expanding Global Vision, Building Hands-On Experience
On June 25, Wu Juyan and Ni Rong, program directors of English (Sci-Tech Translation), led the Class of 2022 to the Shanghai National Convention Center as the first stop of their field trip. the students visited the CIIE Culture Exhibition Center and the main conference hall, gaining deep insights into the history, significance, and global impact of the China International Import Expo. The on-site visit provided first-hand experience of the operation of the major international events, highlighting the sector's role as a vital platform for global exchange. Professor Wu emphasized that the visit would expand the students' professional perspectives and integrate classroom learning with industry needs. During the visit, students actively engaged with industry professionals, discussing such key competencies required in the sector as cross-cultural communication skills and mastery of specialized terminology.
The visit not only enhanced students' comprehension of international business practices but also initiated preliminary collaboration talks between the English Department and the convention center, paving the way for future industry-academia integration.
A Visit to Shanghai Linguitronics Visit: Gaining Industry Insights, Defining Skill Development Paths
On July 2, Two faculty members, Leng Bingbing and Kong Xiangli led Class of 2023 from the English (Sci-Tech Translation) program to Shanghai Linguitronics Co., Ltd. for a field trip. The Visitors were welcomed by General Manager Mr. Yang Yingbo, Department Manager Ms. Wu Caixing and Translation Director Mr. Li Yi .
Students Long Xingyu, Cai Yiyi, and Xu Ruiyi conducted in-depth interviews with company management regarding industry talent needs. Manager Wu walked the guests through the complete translation project workflow - from client need analysis and task allocation to collaborative translation tools and multi-layered quality control - highlighting the growing demand for interdisciplinary talents amid the digitization and the shift toward intelligent technologies.
In his lecture “Essential Competencies for Entry-Level Translators”, Director Li emphasized that while solid linguistic skills are prerequisites, the real competitive edge lies in compound capabilities combining "language + specialized knowledge" or "language + technology." He further stressed the crucial importance of mastering translation technology tools, cross-cultural communication, and information retrieval skills.
The lecture also touched on such topics as industry soft skills, the irreplaceable value of English talents, and post-editing skills. These industry professionals advised students to enhance competencies through hands-on projects while developing teamwork, resilience, and genuine passion for the translation. This industry-academia bridge program has clearly defined a practice-oriented development path, helping the students decide on their future careers.
A Visit to Bank of Ningbo Shanghai Branch : Building Integrated "Language + Finance" Talent Development Model
On July 2, Vice Dean Zhang Le of CFL, together with faculty member Ji Xiaowen and the students from the English (Sci-Tech Translation) program paid a visit to Bank of Ningbo's Shanghai Branch. They were received by Chen Jingjing, Head of Human Resources, Xia Xuanjie, Recruitment Director, and Zou Chencheng, Campus Recruitment Specialist.
Manager Xia briefed the visitors on the bank's strategic positioning, development history, and business sketch of the Shanghai Branch, emphasizing the demand for interdisciplinary talents in cross-border finance and inclusive finance sectors. Vice Dean Zhang Le presented the college's innovative initiatives in industry-academia integration and curriculum optimization.
Through in-depth discussions, both parties reached three key cooperation agreements: First, to jointly establish a professional competency platform focusing on communication skills, crisis management, and professional image management tailored for the financial services industry. Second, to create a "language + finance" interdisciplinary talent development model through a "Dual-Certification Empowerment Program" that encourages students to obtain professional certificates such as the Banking Qualification Certificate. Third, to deepen industry understanding and foster professional values and a sense of purpose through systematic training.
The branch's "Bank-School Cooperation Program" has become a benchmark for industry-education integration. This visit opens new career pathways in finance for English majors, and advances the industry-academia collaborative education mechanism.
The visits opened a new chapter in deepening strategic university-enterprise cooperation. These initiatives have not only charted a new vision for collaborative talent cultivation but have also provided students with clear direction for their future career development. Building on this foundation, the English (Sci-Tech Translation) program will optimize its talent development framework, integrate industry resources, and make plans for future visits. These efforts are designed to empower graduates to pursue diverse career opportunities in language services, finance, and other emerging sectors.
