Construction of the Ruth Mulan Chu Chao Building was sponsored by a very generous gift in 2008 to honor the memory of Ruth Chao’s lifetime dedication to making education accessible to thousands of American and Chinese students. The academic building consists of 10 floors, three towers and covers 360,000 square feet, housing Shanghai Jiao Tong University’s School of Naval Architecture, Ocean and Civil Engineering. Dr. Chao is a graduate of Shanghai Jiao Tong University (SJTU) and former chairman of the American Alumni Association of SJTU. His gift is a reflection of the strong commitment to SJTU by the Chao family to China’s shipbuilding industry and its marine engineering education and technological development.
SJTU is one of the premier universities in China. Established over 100 years ago, SJTU has 31 schools, spread over five campuses. It has developed a strong reputation as a first-class research institute, with an international student body and faculty, offering undergraduate study in all the major disciplines, including engineering, economics, agriculture, medicine, literature, science, law, arts and management. Its post-graduate program is one of the best in the world, with PhDs offered in each of these disciplines. The School hosts three national engineering laboratories, two national R&D centers, a defense lab, four laboratories of health and many more top-notch research facilities that enable SJTU to remain at the top of China’s premier education and research institutions.
The School of Naval Architecture, Ocean and Civil Engineering was founded in 2003 and offers undergraduate and graduate studies in the disciplines of naval architecture and ocean engineering, mechanics, civil engineering, architecture and hydraulic engineering, international shippingadministration and harbor and coastal engineering. The School focuses on three basic subjects: marine engineering, hydro-acoustics engineering, and ship and ocean engineering concentrating on design and construction of vessels. It has a national and international reputation for excellence in the fields of naval and ocean engineering and has formed many cooperative initiatives with leading international institutions.