In order to promote the friendly exchanges and cooperation between our university and British universities, Yu Dehu, Deputy Secretary of the Party Committee and President of our University, led a delegation to visit four British universities from December 3 to 7. The four universities are all well-known in the UK, with a complete range of disciplines, outstanding teaching and research achievements, and have broad prospects for cooperation with our university.
Ulster University is located in Belfast, the capital of Northern Ireland, with more than 3,000 staff and more than 25,000 students. Our school has established student joint training programs with Ulster University in the fields of computer science, engineering management, etc. Currently, two undergraduate students from the School of Management Engineering of Shandong Jianzhu University are studying at Ulster University. The joint doctoral program in computer science is running well, and nearly 10 doctoral students have entered this program in two batches. In the first half of this year, the delegation of Ulster University has visited our school twice for exchange visits.
During the visit to Ulster University, the delegation held discussions with their Vice President Professor Liam Maguire and Dean of the Graduate School Professor Sonja McIlfatrick, exchanging views on accelerating and expanding exchanges and cooperation between the two universities. The delegation also held separate meetings with the School of Computer Science and the School of Architecture and the Built Environment, fully communicated and discussed the cooperation of computer-related majors, the cooperation between the School of Management Engineering and the School of Thermal Energy Engineering. Further consensus has been reached in many areas. The delegation also visited the relevant teaching and research facilities and characteristic laboratories of Ulster University.
Leeds Beckett University (Leeds Beckett University) is one of the foreign universities that established a friendly cooperation relationship with our university earlier and maintained a friendly exchange and cooperation relationship for a long time. It is a renowned comprehensive research university in the UK with significant achievements in teaching and research. Over 400 students graduated since the enrollment of the Environmental Design joint program organized by both universities in 2016. During the visit to Leeds Beckett University, the delegation discussed with the Vice President Dr David Ashton, and leaders of Office of International Cooperation, the Office of Teaching Management, the School of Art and Architecture and the School of Built Environment, Engineering and Computing. They reviewed the history of exchanges and cooperation between the two universities, exchanged and summarized the implementation of the signed agreements, and fully communicated on accelerating and expanding exchanges and cooperation, especially in collaborative matters such as joint applications for Sino-foreign cooperative program, engineering management, sustainable energy technology, and other disciplinary areas. Consensus has been reached on many fronts. The delegation also visited teaching and research facilities, characteristic laboratories and various activity sites to communicate and interact with students in a timely manner.
University of Hull was founded in 1927, located in Hull city in northeast England, is the 14th longest established university in England, and it is a famous comprehensive research university in the UK. A teacher from the School of Thermal Energy Engineering of our university has been funded by the provincial government to study and visit the school, and another teacher has been approved to study and visit the school in 2023 national government-sponsored senior research Scholar project plan. At present, a graduate of the School of Architecture and Urban Planning of our university has been approved to study for a doctoral degree in Hull university by Chinese High-level Public University Post-graduate Project. Professor Zhao Xudong, director of the Sustainable Energy Technology Center of University of Hull and Academician of the European Academy of Sciences, was appointed as a distinguished Professor of our university. The two universities have established a joint graduate program in Renewable Energy Technology, and both parties are currently working towards setting up a joint doctoral program. During the visit, the two sides had full consultations on inter-university exchanges and cooperation, especially on student joint program, teacher exchanges, teaching and research cooperation, research project application and other matters. The delegation also held discussions with Chinese students and scholars, introduced our university's talent introduction policy, and solicited their opinions and suggestions on talent introduction, scientific research project cooperation, discipline and professional construction. They also met with our students who studying in University of Hull to know about their study and life, and solicit their opinions and suggestions on student exchange study.
The delegation also visited University College London, a world-renowned university. The two sides exchanged views on the development of our teachers, teaching training, students’ further study and other matters, as well as the university's intellectual attraction program and the construction of high-level laboratories. Accompanied by Professor Bai Yun and others from UCL, the delegation visited their advanced library and information resources, teaching and research facilities, and relevant laboratories to learn about the university's advanced practices in talent development, scientific research, laboratory construction, etc.
This visit further promoted the exchange and cooperation between our university and British universities, demonstrated the new achievements of our university development, and effectively promoted our university.
Director Chen Qihui from the Academic Affairs Office, Dean Zhang Linhua of the School of Thermal Engineering, Vice Secretary of the Party Committee and Dean Wang Dedong of the School of Management Engineering, along with Director Li Xiao (also as the translator) from the Office of International Exchange and Cooperation, went on the official visit together.
