International exchanges have always been considered an important activity in the Shanghai Theatre Academy. In the fifties, experts from the former Soviet Union had been invited to help in the further studies and research on the Stanislavsky system. Since the eighties, exchange programs have been established with UCLA, the State University of California, Long Beach in the United States, the University of Toronto and the University of York in Canada, the University of Leeds in Britain, National Institute of Dramatic Arts in Australia, Musashino Art University in Japan, Moscow Theatre Academy and Petersburg Theatre Academy in Russia. Internationally acclaimed dramatists such as Richard Schechner, Robert Wilson, and Martin Esslin have been invited to give lectures, workshops and have exhibitions in countries such as the United States of America, Japan, Australia, Canada, Germany, and Singapore. Professor Rong Guangrun, president of the Academy, has been appointed a member of the international Board of Evaluation by Hong Kong Council for Academic Accreditation.