On the morning of April 7, during the celebration of Shanghai Jiao Tong University's 130th anniversary, the founding ceremony of the Computer Science Alumni Association was held at the Minhang campus. LENOVO GROUP Chairman and CEO Yang Yuanqing, who is also a university council member and a 1981 computer science alumnus, was appointed as the inaugural president.
Honorary presidents include Microsoft Global Senior Vice President Wang Yongdong, a 1980 computer science undergraduate alumnus; former China General Technology Group director, general manager, and deputy party secretary Lu Yimin, a 1981 computer science undergraduate alumnus; University of Southern California professor and two-time Gödel Prize winner Teng Shanghua, a 1981 computer science undergraduate alumnus; Peking University School of Computer Science dean Hu Zhenjiang, a 1984 computer science undergraduate and master's alumnus; and Chinese Academy of Sciences academician Mei Hong, a 1989 computer science doctoral alumnus. Wu Fan, executive vice dean of the School of Computer Science, was appointed executive president. Vice presidents include Chen Hong, Sun Ruiming, Wang Tao, Sun Zhongbin, Hong Feng, Xu Li, Tang Jinghua, and Dai Wenyuan.
In his speech, Yang Yuanqing expressed honor at being elected the first president and acknowledged the significant responsibility entrusted by the school and alumni. He emphasized that the establishment of the alumni association represents not just an organizational milestone but a gathering of shared purpose and a new starting point for SJTU computer scientists to contribute to national technological advancement.
Yang highlighted the rapid evolution of cutting-edge technologies like artificial intelligence, the deepening integration of digital and real economies, and the "AI+" initiative as both opportunities and missions for the field. Aligning with technological trends, alumni development needs, and the university's vision, the association will focus on three areas: fostering emotional bonds to unite alumni, providing practical support for mutual growth, and fulfilling responsibilities to give back to the alma mater.
During the ceremony, SJTU Vice President Guan Haibing presented the association flag to Yang Yuanqing. The School of Computer Science traces its origins to 1956, making SJTU one of China's earliest institutions in computer education and research. After decades of growth, the school was formally established in May 2025 by merging several departments and research centers. In the 2026 CSRankings, SJTU's computer science program tied with Tsinghua University for first place globally.
Yang has long supported his alma mater's basic research and talent development. On April 6, he announced a personal donation of RMB 200 million to renovate Building No. 3 on the Xuhui campus, which will thereafter support AI research and education. In 2021, he donated RMB 100 million to build a high-performance computing center, then the most powerful in Chinese universities. In May 2015, he donated RMB 10 million and co-established the "Computer 85 Fund and Yang Yuanqing Education Fund" with fellow 1981 computer science alumni.
Beyond personal contributions, Yang has led LENOVO GROUP in deepening industry-university-research collaboration with SJTU. A strategic partnership formed in 2021 has yielded substantial results with over RMB 200 million invested in the past five years. On April 6, both parties announced an upgraded partnership, with Lenovo pledging an additional RMB 300 million over the next five years for AI-related research, talent development, and technology investment.
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