(By Zhu Xugang, Correspondent)
In order to systematically review and trace the development of the university’s international medical education, further explore its historical legacy, and advance the excellence of international medical education in the new era, Dr. Huang Chao, Vice Dean of the School of International Education led a delegation to Tongji Medical College History Research Association on December 11, 2025. The group held a thematic discussion on the historical evolution of international students admission and cultivation at Tongji Medical College since its establishment.
At the History and Culture Gallery of Tongji Medical College, Mr. Chen Yinghan, Vice President of Tongji Medical College History Research Association, provided a vivid account of the college’s development and history of international engagement. He shared that the college traces its origins to the Shanghai German Medical School, founded in 1907, which later established the Shanghai German Medical College in 1941 to offer pre-medical education for German children living in China. During World War II, the college continued its educational mission without interruption even as it was forced to relocate multiple times, with German faculty members standing with the college throughout these challenging times. These extraordinary years not only reflected a profound international camaraderie forged in adversity but also ensured the continuous and rigorous transmission of medical knowledge and academic tradition.
Ms. Ke Yuping, Director of the Alumni Office of Tongji Medical College, outlined the clear trajectory of the college’s international education development. She noted that in 1962, the former Wuhan Medical College established a German language program aimed at training essential teaching staff for the restoration and development of Sino-German exchanges, laying a solid linguistic and cultural foundation. In 1980, the former Wuhan Medical College resumed institutional exchanges with Heidelberg University in Germany, a milestone collaboration that opened a new chapter in its global outreach. From the admission of the first group of German students in 1981 until its merger into Huazhong University of Science and Technology (HUST) in 2000, the former Tongji Medical University had enrolled a total of 349 German students for academic study or clinical internships. In 1986, the acceptance of the first cohort of 11 Chinese Government Scholarship students marked the beginning of a more diversified and standardized development in its international education system. Over the decades, numerous international alumni have grown into key contributors in the healthcare sectors of their home countries and continue to serve as a bridge in promoting academic collaboration and cultural exchange with their alma mater.
Dr. Huang Chao stressed that the admission and cultivation of international students at Tongji Medical College are characterized by a rich historical legacy and a well-documented evolution. This heritage not only constitutes a vital part of HUST’s tradition in international education, but also stands as a compelling illustration of Chinese medical education’s journey toward global engagement and cross-cultural integration. Systematically reviewing and studying this valuable historical asset will serve as a key pillar for the university to solidly advance its “Double First-Class” initiative in the new era and to further highlight the distinctive international characteristics of its medical education.
The participants jointly affirmed their commitment to further explore the unique historical narratives and cultural dimensions of the university’s international medical education, and to systematically incorporate them into the high-quality development framework of international education. This collaborative effort is dedicated to building the international education brand of “Study at HUST, Medicine at Tongji”, which is characterized by profound heritage and distinctive features, and to infusing it with enduring historical and cultural vitality. This integrated approach will strengthen its appeal to outstanding global medical talents and enhance the university’s international influence.
