(Source: CGTN)

The first joint China-US research university -- the New York University Shanghai -- was established in 2012 as a major part of the education cooperation program under the Chinese Ministry of Education. With its first batch of students about to graduate in May, our reporter Hu Nan visited the school's campus in the heart of Shanghai's financial center.

It was a groundbreaking educational network for both New York University and the Chinese education system when it was established five years ago.

Recognized as a new model for transnational higher education, NYU Shanghai, a start-up university, now features a composition of students from all over the world.

But with 1,200 students and 170 international faculty members, NYU Shanghai has greater ambitions than just educational cooperation and high-quality learning...

"In the beginning, we were trying to catch up with the trend of transnational education cooperation. Yet after years of exploration and development, I've realized that we are actually leading the trend, and we’re shouldering the responsibility to be the window and bridge for youngsters who are interested in China, and are the future of international relations," said Dr. Yu Lizhong, chancellor, NYU Shanghai.