From October 8 to 23, 2023, the 16-day “Jilin University–Rutgers University Philosophy Academic Program” came to a successful conclusion. Through studying a wide range of courses at Rutgers University and engaging in cultural exchanges with nearby cities, the faculty and students achieved fruitful results.
The participants took philosophy courses on a rich variety of topics, including metaphysics, philosophy of law, moral epistemology, science and religion, logic, normative ethics, philosophy of language, philosophy of mind, philosophy of psychology, political philosophy, environmental ethics, and logical puzzles, and also participated in an academic English workshop. A Rutgers professor pointed out at the orientation session, “Here you are encouraged to be yourself, and you can ask questions about anything at any time.” With the guidance and encouragement of the instructors, the students actively consulted the professors during their studies, and everyone voiced their own opinions in the lively classroom discussions. At the same time, in the all-English teaching environment, the students’ listening and speaking skills also improved significantly.
In addition to the coursework, through cultural exploration activities, the students experienced the culture and campus environment of Princeton University, the profound historical and cultural heritage of Philadelphia, as well as New York’s distinctive food culture and the atmosphere of ethnic integration. This was a highly meaningful academic exchange activity. The students expressed their gratitude for the strong cultivation provided by the School of Philosophy and Sociology, and said they would surely absorb the ideas from this activity to support their own learning and research.
This exchange consolidated the strong friendship between the Philosophy Department of Jilin University and the Philosophy Department of Rutgers University, enhanced the learning and exchange between philosophy students and scholars from world-class universities, and promoted the internationalization process and the construction of a first-class discipline in philosophy at Jilin University.
Rutgers University, referred to as RU or Rutgers, and officially named Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey, traces its origins to Queen’s College, founded in 1766. It is a world-renowned top-tier public research university and the largest institution of higher education in New Jersey, with an academic reputation second only to Princeton University in the state. In the 2023 QS World University Rankings by Subject, Rutgers’ philosophy program was ranked 2nd in the world.
