Aki Miao, manager of the Undergraduate Education Office at the University of Michigan – Shanghai Jiao Tong University Joint Institute (UM-SJTU JI, JI hereafter), has been awarded the Special Prize in the 2025 SJTU Undergraduate Education Service Star selection.
The SJTU Undergraduate Education Service Star program focuses on recognizing individuals who have made outstanding contributions to undergraduate teaching management and services and have played a leading and exemplary role. The award aims to encourage undergraduate academic affairs personnel across the university to enhance management effectiveness and improve educational service quality.
Faced with JI’s numerous dual-degree programs and diverse educational models, Miao has actively explored various implementation plans, deeply advancing the concept of personalized education to fully meet students’ wide-ranging and diverse developmental needs. She has taken an active role in promoting the development of the Institute’s “special zone” institutional system, helping to shape a distinctive institutional culture and style. She has also been devoted to program and curriculum development, supporting the application of new majors and degree programs in recent years, and advancing the development of specialty programs and top-tier courses with notable achievements. In areas such as faculty development, curriculum ideological and political education, and teaching digitalization, she has shown innovation and initiative. Miao has actively supported the career development of young faculty members and provided guidance at critical transition points in students’ academic journeys. She adheres to the principle of service-oriented education, continuously improving service effectiveness. Her efforts have earned widespread recognition and praise from both Chinese and international faculty and students, and contributed to the development of SJTU’s international platform.
Personal Introduction
Aki Miao serves as Manager of the Undergraduate Education Office at the UM-SJTU Joint Institute. She has received numerous honors, including the First Prize of the Shanghai Municipal Teaching Achievement Award, the SJTU Management and Service Award, the Second Prize of the SJTU Teaching and Education Award (Group), the Outstanding Individual Award in Academic Affairs Management, the Excellent Teacher Award, the JI Best Staff of the Year Award, and the JI Management and Service Award. She has participated in various SJTU administrative research projects and teaching reform initiatives, and serves as an academic affairs training mentor.
