On July 7, a delegation from Sichuan International Studies University (SISU), led by Vice President Yan Gongjun, visited the global headquarters of Trip.com Group in Shanghai to sign a strategic cooperation agreement and explore new opportunities for collaboration in international tourism education. The partnership aims to strengthen industry-academia integration and foster globally competent professionals in the culture and tourism sectors.

Prior to a roundtable discussion, Vice President Yan and Wang Wei, Senior Vice President of Trip.com Group, signed the agreement on behalf of their respective institutions. This strategic partnership marks a transition from project-based cooperation to a more integrated, long-term collaboration model. During the ceremony, VP Yan also presented an Outstanding Alumna Award to Du Rui, a 2013 graduate of SISU’s Tourism Management program and now Director of Strategic Planning in Trip.com’s Business Development Department.

Connecting Education and Industry to Prepare Global Tourism Leaders

At the meeting, Trip.com’s Wang Wei praised SISU’s forward-thinking approach to liberal arts education, which combines global perspectives, digital skills, and industry relevance—an approach that aligns closely with Trip.com’s model of innovation through “technology + culture + ecosystem.”

Liu Di, Vice President of Business Development and Dean of the Trip.com Tourism Industry Academy, offered insights into current trends in China’s tourism market, particularly the steady growth of inbound tourism. He emphasized Trip.com’s commitment to leveraging SISU’s multilingual strengths in combination with Trip.com’s digital platforms to improve international service standards and support national inbound tourism strategies.

Building a “Language + Tourism” Model of Talent Development

Vice President Yan expressed appreciation for Trip.com’s industry leadership and shared SISU’s vision for expanding its “Language + Tourism” initiative. He outlined several areas of future collaboration, including the co-development of a “Chongqing International Multilingual Tourism Service Platform,” establishing multilingual service standards for the tourism industry, and launching joint training programs for inbound tourism professionals.

Liu Yumei, Director of SISU’s Academic Affairs Office, added that the university is committed to aligning its curriculum with the evolving demands of the tourism sector. She emphasized upcoming reforms to experiential learning programs, interdisciplinary teaching strategies, and the development of a more adaptable and industry-relevant talent pipeline.

Dai Bin, Dean of the School of International Business and Management, SISU,and Wang Ting, the school’s Party Secretary, echoed the importance of preparing students for the changing demands of the global tourism economy. They highlighted plans to continue advancing SISU’s interdisciplinary, internationalized, and digitally driven approach to talent development.

Showcasing Student Success in Industry-Academia Collaboration

Trip.com Group leaders recognized two standout participants from the inaugural “SISU–Trip.com Livestreaming Talent Bootcamp”: Jian Dong and Yan Donglai. Both students stood out for their strong language abilities and practical marketing skills, earning internship placements at Trip.com’s global headquarters.

Following the roundtable, the SISU delegation toured Trip.com’s Exploration Center and office facilities, gaining deeper insight into the company’s development, operations, and future strategy.

The visit underscored the shared vision of both institutions to foster innovative, globally minded talent for the next generation of tourism leadership.