Jane Chen /Shanghai Daily news

President John Hood of the University of Oxford showed interest in a closer partnership with more universities in Shanghai by saying this morning that he would visit more local universities here if time allows.
Though he has come to Shanghai many times, Fudan is the only university he has visited because it is the only school Oxford has established a partnership with. 
Hood said he knows there are many other prestigious universities here, and expects to visit them if possible.
Hood was attending the University Presidents Forum, part of the centennial anniversary celebrations for Fudan University. As one of the panelists of the forum on Interaction between City Development and the University, Hood gave a speech, along with his counterparts from Yale, the University of Tokyo, the National University of Singapore, the University of Sydney and Fudan University.
In his speech, Hood deplored the normal relationship between the university and city development, saying that there should be no physical boundaries between a university and a city.
He also explained how Oxford encourages students to pursue studies while working in business.  Many students get financial aid from the school, he noted, and only those who are able to afford it pay the full charge.
The president was the first foreign attendee to arrive at the venue; he arrived nearly two hours before the event was due to commence.
Shanghai Mayor Han Zheng and China's vice Education Minister Wu Qidi, the former president of local Tongji University, joined the symposium and discussion.
The audience of more than 400 attendees includes presidents and management staff from over 130 universities around the world as well as government officials and Fudan students and faculty.