On the morning of December 4th, the Fifth International Young Scholars Forum of the School of Foreign Languages at Shanghai Jiao Tong University was held at the Yang Yongman Building on the Minhang Campus. The forum was attended by over 50 participants, including Qian Wentao, Deputy Director of the Division of Human Resources; Gao Yankun, Deputy Director of the Division for Development Liberal Arts; Hong Nana, Deputy Director of the Talent Recruitment and Development Center; Shang Biwu, Dean of the School of Foreign Languages; Peng Qinglong, Distinguished Professor; Huan Changpeng, Assistant Dean; Zhen Fengchao, Head of the English Department; Xue Yuan, Head of the German Department; and Cao Hui, Head of the French and Russian Department, as well as outstanding young scholars from China and abroad. The forum was conducted in a hybrid format, combining online and offline participation, and the opening ceremony was hosted by Ren Zhujing, Deputy Party Secretary of the School of Foreign Languages.

In his speech, Qian Wentao extended his congratulations on the successful convening of the forum. He emphasized that Shanghai Jiao Tong University has always regarded talent development as its primary strategic priority, fostering a strong awareness of talent cultivation and a clear orientation toward talent utilization. The university has consistently advanced reforms in the talent development system and mechanisms. Over the years, it has adhered to the principles of "positioning high-level talent roles based on needs and recruiting with precision" and "open recruitment and competitive selection" for young talent. Qian highlighted the university's strong support for schools and departments to attract outstanding domestic and international talent through global recruitment initiatives and academic forums. He affirmed the rapid development of the School of Foreign Languages in recent years and expressed a commitment to working alongside the school to continue fostering an environment of eagerness for talent and respect for scholars. This, he noted, would ensure the recruitment of exceptional talent and further advance the development of foreign language disciplines.

Shang Biwu delivered a presentation titled "Driving Development Through Pragmatic Action, Forging Ahead to Open New Horizons", providing an overview of the School of Foreign Languages. He introduced the school's progress and achievements in various aspects, including its development, disciplinary characteristics, organized research, talent cultivation, social services, and faculty development. Shang emphasized that the school remains committed to the development philosophy of "Pursuing Truth and Pragmatism, Continuing Endeavors". It will steadily implement strategic initiatives such as prioritizing education, strengthening the school through talent, and fostering interdisciplinary innovation. These efforts aim to contribute the strength of the School of Foreign Languages at Shanghai Jiao Tong University to the university, society, and the nation.

Gao Yankun introduced the university's policies for developing the humanities and social sciences. He elaborated on several key aspects, including the overall status of humanities and social sciences at the university, the research achievements of the School of Foreign Languages, policy support for the academic growth of faculty, and various full academic lifecycle cultivation programs. These include the Humanities and Social Sciences Young Talent Development Program, the High-level Humanities Team Development Program, and platforms for academic exchange, such as the Smart Humanities and Social Sciences Center. Gao highlighted the abundant development opportunities and prospects available for young scholars.

Hong Nana introduced the university's talent policies, emphasizing that talent is the cornerstone of the university's development in all areas. She highlighted the university's commitment to creating a nurturing environment where everyone has the opportunity to succeed and fully realize their potential. Hong provided a detailed overview of the university's development philosophy and goals, its talent recruitment and cultivation principles, the structure of its talent team, pathways for career development, and the talent support system. Her presentation aimed to give young scholars a clear understanding of the university's talent framework and policies.

Peng Qinglong delivered a keynote speech titled "The Future of Foreign Language and Literature Disciplines in the Era of Artificial Intelligence". He began by addressing the significant impact and challenges that artificial intelligence technology poses to the field of foreign languages and literature, prompting reflections on the path and direction for the discipline's future development. Peng emphasized that foreign language and literature disciplines must adopt a broader perspective, proactively aligning with the needs of economic and social development. He called for leveraging the unique strengths and characteristics of disciplines across universities to focus on cultivating diverse and excellent talent in digital foreign language studies. As the cornerstone of talent cultivation, educators must continually optimize their knowledge structures and enhance their technological and humanistic competencies.

Subsequently, the participating young scholars presented academic reports based on their respective cutting-edge research, utilizing both online and offline formats for communication. Representatives from various academic fields within the school, including Cao Hui, Huan Changpeng, Huang Jianxiang, Liu Huawen, Tang Yili, Wei Xiaofei, Wu Shiyu, Xue Song, Xue Yuan, and Zhen Fengchao, engaged in in-depth academic exchanges with the young scholars.

The Fifth International Young Scholars Forum of the School of Foreign Languages at Shanghai Jiao Tong University was held as part of the university's "Zhiyuan" International Young Scholars Forum, serving as an important platform for bringing together outstanding young scholars from around the globe. The participating scholars engaged in in-depth discussions on cutting-edge academic issues and research findings, sparking intellectual exchanges, inspiring academic innovation, and broadening their scholarly perspectives. The forum concluded successfully.