Sias International University and the China Information Management Leaders Alliance founded the Future of Information Technology Institute (FITI) on April 18 in the Sias Basketball Arena. Senior partners of FITI present at the inauguration were Senior Vice President of Shineray Holdings, Ma Jun; Chief Information Officer (CIO) of Sinosteel, and Renmin University CIO researcher, Li Hong; Consultant to China International Marine Containers (CIMC), and founding member of IT Value, Zhao Xiaoping; CIO of China Fortune Land Development (CFLD), Luo Zhen; Professor and doctoral tutor, Tongji University, Shen Gang; Senior Vice President and CIO of the Jinjiang International Hotel Group, and Chief Operations Officer (COO) of the China Hospitality Technology Alliance (CHTA), Zhang Xingguo; and Director of the China Society for the Promotion of Science & Technology Commercialization, and former CIO of the Sanpower Group, Wang Yong. Sias was represented by the Chairman of the Board of Sias, Dr. Shawn Chen; Sias President Dr. Chen Sikun, who chaired the conference; Assistant Principal Sun Rujian; as well as leaders of the Academic Office, School of Business, the School of Electronics and Information Engineering, and other relevant departments. Over 3,000 students attended the conference.

The Chairman of the Board of Sias, Dr. Shawn Chen, delivered the opening speech and welcomed the guests. He spoke of the significance and vision of the Future of Information Technology Institute (FITI) as well as the spirit, innovation and development of Sias International University. He said that Sias was, "All for students, for all students." He added that FITI aimed to train students to have a global vision, strategic thinking, and skills that would enhance their innovation management. The university would provide the best classrooms, exclusive dormitories, and a special zone in the library, as well as employ top industry experts and instructors to teach students to focus on the needs of society.

Senior Vice President and CIO of the Jinjiang International Hotel Group, and Dean of FITI, Zhang Xingguo, delivered a speech titled, 'Combining Technology and Market Changes in Innovation Education,' in which he focused on the characteristics and value of FITI students to society. He said that FITI would provide more courses, highly refined textbooks, better teachers, and more practical internships to help students become high-quality, valuable IT management personnel.

Senior Vice President of Shineray Holdings, Ma Jun, said that the China Information Management Leaders Alliance is a professional association of CIOs, CTOs, and CEOs, integrating experts from thousands of enterprises, combining their resources and strengths to help foster IT managerial talent across universities in China. The China Information Management Leaders Alliance would provide FITI students with specially designed courses, high-level teachers, and would also provide internships and employment opportunities.

Later, there were speeches by the founding member of IT Value, Zhao Xiaoping, Chief Information Officer (CIO) of Sinosteel, Li Hong, Professor at Tongji University, Shen Gang, CIO of China Fortune Land Development, Luo Zhen, and the Director of the China Society for the Promotion of Science & Technology Commercialization, Wang Yong. They spoke on several key factors required for students' growth, and the requirements to become innovators in society. After this, the Dean of the School of Business, Li Jie, the Dean of the School of Electronics and Information Engineering, Shen Yang, and the Dean of the Academic Affairs Office, Wang Xiaoquan, presented a brief introduction of the teaching arrangements and curriculum of FITI.

Sias President, Dr. Chen Sikun, closed the conference and encouraged students to purposefully join FITI with a view toward excellence.