On July 9, 2025, the inauguration ceremony for the Sichuan International Studies University Grouphorse ESG Global Governance Talent Industrial College was grandly held in the International Conference Hall of the Hongwen Building at Sichuan International Studies University. Attendees included Vice President of Sichuan International Studies University Yan Gongjun, Vice President of Grouphorse Group Zhang Li, Dean of the School of English Zhao Yongfeng, among other distinguished guests, who together witnessed this milestone moment.

In his speech, Vice President Yan Gongjun emphasized that the establishment of the ESG Global Governance Talent Industrial College is a key initiative by the university to actively respond to China’s national strategies of “enhancing international communication capacity” and “deepening industry-education integration.” He stated that the college would leverage the university’s strength in multilingual disciplines and Grouphorse Group’s rich international resources to build a high-level demonstration platform that integrates talent cultivation, scientific research, technical services, and innovation incubation. “The college will use the ESG philosophy as a bridge,” he said, “to explore a new model for the coordinated development of higher education and industrial innovation, contributing wisdom and strength to China's sustainable development.”

Zhang Li, Vice President of Grouphorse Group, remarked that as China’s leading integrated provider of foreign-related services, Grouphorse Group possesses unique advantages in empowering ESG and global governance talent development. Grouphorse is an official supplier to the United Nations and a member of the UN Global Compact. It has long co-hosted and initiated agenda-setting at major UN events such as the ECOSOC Youth Forum and the UN Ocean Conference. It maintains long-term cooperation with nearly 40 international organizations including the United Nations, World Health Organization, World Intellectual Property Organization, and International Monetary Fund, gaining valuable experience in global governance.

She stated, “This collaboration with Sichuan International Studies University marks an important step in Grouphorse’s deepened engagement with higher education and talent incubation. We aim to open new pathways for students to step onto the global governance stage by integrating academic insight and industry resources, thereby helping Chinese enterprises enhance their international leadership.” She further noted that in today’s globalized world, global governance competence has become essential for high-caliber professionals—from climate change to cross-border trade rules, from corporate ESG compliance to international arbitration. To this end, Grouphorse will continue providing students with top-tier international training programs, such as international arbitration programs in collaboration with the National University of Singapore and the University of Hong Kong, as well as upcoming exchange programs with the University of Pennsylvania and Yale University.

Dean Zhao Yongfeng noted that the establishment of the college would further promote interdisciplinary integration within the School of English and enhance its capacity to nurture globally competent talents. The school will seize this opportunity to participate more deeply in major national strategies, contribute to regional economic development, and cultivate more high-quality professionals with global vision and interdisciplinary capabilities.

With all guests as witnesses, the two sides formally signed the cooperation agreement and jointly unveiled the nameplate for the Sichuan International Studies University Grouphorse ESG Global Governance Talent Industrial College. The college’s founding marks another solid step for Sichuan International Studies University in building a new liberal arts framework and integrating disciplines, industries, and talent development. Going forward, the college will focus on the three core ESG pillars—Environmental, Social, and Governance—to cultivate interdisciplinary talents with global competitiveness and provide a strong talent foundation for China's participation in global governance.

Grouphorse Group has already established China’s first ESG college—TFSU Grouphorse ESG Industrial College—in partnership with Tianjin Foreign Studies University; co-founded the first ESG center within a “Double First-Class” university’s foreign language faculty with Southwest Petroleum University; established the ESG Service Center of the Guangdong General Chamber of Commerce; and joined the Suzhou ESG Innovation Center, where it was warmly received by then-Secretary of the Suzhou Municipal Committee (now Deputy Secretary of the Jiangsu Provincial Committee) Liu Xiaotao. With the joint establishment of the Sichuan International Studies University–Grouphorse ESG Global Governance Talent Industrial College, Grouphorse has now completed its national strategic layout in the ESG field across the East, South, West, and North of China. It is worth noting that two years ago, Grouphorse Group Chairman Tang Xing led a delegation to visit Sichuan International Studies University, laying a solid foundation for this upgraded collaboration and demonstrating Grouphorse’s long-term commitment to global talent development.

The establishment of the Sichuan International Studies University Grouphorse ESG Global Governance Talent Industrial College not only injects new momentum into China’s sustainable development strategy but also enriches the practical pathways and cooperation models for ESG talent development. By building a comprehensive and interdisciplinary educational ecosystem, the university and enterprise will actively support China’s high-quality development strategy and jointly cultivate ESG-driven global governance professionals with a strong sense of international standards, professional expertise, and cross-cultural communication skills.