On August 31, Prof. Chen Yiyi, Vice President of Tongji University and Jan-Eric Sundgren, Senior Vice President of Public and Ecological affairs, Volvo Group signed the cooperation agreement ' Preferred Talent '. This marked the initiation of long-term strategic cooperation in Volvo Group Academic Partner Project between Volvo Group and Tongji University. According to the agreement, Volvo would provide the international development platform for students in the fields of engineering, business and logistics. It would enhance Tongji's strength in education and research and development in those fields and make a stronger talent pool for sustained development.

As one key part of the plan, 'Preferred Talent Partner Cooperation' aimed to seek, cultivate and select excellent professionals, and to provide them with chances of individual development through forming close ties with well-known universities in the world. Tongji and Tsinghua are the only two universities with which Volvo cooperates in China.