• In 1995---The Distance Education Research Laboratory of the China Education Science and Research Network was founded to shoulder the design and implementation of the Shanghai distance education.

• In 1997---the SJTU-Intel Distance Learning and Research Center was successfully setted up.The project sponsered by Intel in the center is the first one sponsered by Intel in the mainland China.

• In 1999---the SJTU Distance Learning Center and the Shanghai Distance Education Research and Development Center was established.

• In 2000---the SJTU-SPT Jointed Modern Distance Education Research and Development Center came into existance.

• In 2000---the SJTU--IBM e-learning Research Laboratory was setted up.

• In 2004---Shanghai Science and Technology Advanced Award, 1st Class.

• In 2005---China National Education Production Award, 1st Class.

• In 2006---National Science and Technology Advanced Award, 2st Class.

After several years’ effort, a team of keen-witted and capable young researchers of the centre has made certain achievement in the research and development of the distance learning system. They developed a set of effective modes for distance education which relies mainly on video-meeting-based real-time lecturing system, Web-based individual learning system being subsidiary.

The centre undertakes the planning and implementation of distance education in Shanghai, the National Ninth-Five and Tenth-Five key brainstorm projects, 863 High-tech Research and Development Program of China. It co-builds with Shanghai Education Commission many national key programs, including Shanghai Education Hotline. Meanwhile, it also undertakes some international cooperative programs-Intel Research Fund, and has established extensive cooperation with universities in Japan, the U.S. and the U.K.