Cardiff Business School strengthens ties during strategic visit to Shanghai

Senior representatives from Cardiff Business School have returned from a productive visit to Shanghai, where they held a series of high‑level meetings aimed at expanding academic partnerships, enhancing programme promotion, and developing new collaborative opportunities in teaching and research.

Professor Vasco Sanchez Rodrigues, Head of the Logistics and Operations Management (LOM) Section, and Dr Jane Haider, Reader in Transport, Logistics and Operations Management and Deputy Head of Postgraduate Learning and Teaching, met with colleagues at Shanghai Maritime University (SMU), connected with Cardiff Business School alumni, and visited several recruitment agents during their time in China.

A central focus of the visit was strengthening the School’s long‑standing relationship with Shanghai Maritime University. Over a working lunch with senior SMU management, discussions centred on the joint postgraduate pathways developed between the two institutions. Under the partnership, SMU students complete a six‑month to one‑year pre‑master’s foundation programme before progressing to one of three revalidated LOM postgraduate degrees at Cardiff: MSc Logistics and Operations Management, MSc Sustainable Supply Chain Management, or MSc Maritime Policy and Shipping Management.

SMU representatives expressed confidence in the potential of this collaboration, estimating that up to 200 students could be attracted through the joint programmes. They encouraged active, co‑ordinated promotion and emphasised the importance of finalising the Memorandum of Understanding developed by Dr Haider.

Following the meeting, Professor Sanchez Rodrigues and Dr Haider delivered a presentation to a large group of SMU undergraduate students considering Cardiff University for their further studies. They also hosted a joint seminar exploring Sustainable Supply Chain Management, Maritime Logistics Decarbonisation and Digitalisation, topics that align with both institutions’ research strengths.

The visit concluded with promising discussions on future collaborative research, particularly in the areas of decarbonisation and artificial intelligence applications in maritime operations. Both academics noted that such partnerships have significant potential to generate high‑quality journal publications and attract substantial research funding for Cardiff University.

Overall, the visit reinforced the School’s ambition to establish a holistic and mutually beneficial partnership with Shanghai Maritime University, one that supports student recruitment, enhances global engagement, and drives impactful research for both institutions.