From 19 to 28 of April, a delegation led by Vice President Wang Feng of Beijing University of Chemical Technology (BUCT) paid visits to seven universities and research institutes. They are the Istanbul Technical University and the Bogazici University in Turkey, the University of Western Macedonia and the University of Patras in Greece, the IMDEA Materials Institute, the Technical University of Madrid and the Polytechnic University of Catalonia in Spain. In-depth discussions with the faculties of the said institutes were made on the aspects of joint training of students, faculty exchanges, scientific cooperation and joint laboratory construction. The delegation members are Li Chengming, Secretary of CPC Committee from College of Materials Science and Engineering, Cao Hui, Secretary of CPC Committee from College of Life Science and Technology, Liu Guangqing, Executive Dean of Institute of Belt and Road Global Cooperation of BUCT, and Zhang Wan, Director of International Exchange Office under BUCT International Exchange and Cooperation Department.
On the morning of April 19th, the delegation led by Vice President Wang Feng paid a visit to the Istanbul Technical University (ITU) in Turkey and had a meeting with Rector of ITU, Prof. Dr. İsmail Koyuncu, Vice-rector, Prof. Dr. Şule Itır Satoğlu, and the head representatives from Faculty of Civil Engineering and Faculty of Chemical-Metallurgical Engineering. Both sides exchanged ideas on the aspects of joint cultivation for students, academic exchange for teachers, and scientific and technological cooperation. Representatives from two universities signed the School-level Memorandum of Understanding on Cooperation, which was of great strategic significance in respects of future talent cultivation, scientific research, campus building and so on. After the meeting, the delegation toured around the campus of ITU and learned about its history and visited the key labs in the university.
The delegation visits the Istanbul Technical University.
The delegation visits laboratories of ITU.
On the afternoon of April 19th, the delegation visited Bogazici University (BU) in Turkey and had a meeting with Prof. Dr. Turgut Tüzün Onay, Director of BU Institute of Environmental Sciences, Prof. Dr. Tamer Atabarut, Director of BU Lifelong Learning Centre, Pro. Wang Wu, Chinese Director of the Confucius Institute at Bogazici University, and other school representatives. During the meeting, two sides exchanged ideas on the aspects of programs for international students to come to China, exchange programs for students, scientific cooperation for teachers, and the construction of Confucius Institute. After the meeting, the delegation visited the laboratories of the Institute of Environmental Sciences of BU.
The delegation visits the Bogazici University in Turkey.
On April 22, the delegation visited the University of Western Macedonia (UOWM) in Greece and had a meeting with UOWM Rector, Prof. Theodoros Theodoulidis, Vice-rector, Prof. Nikolaos Sariannidis, Vice-rector, Prof. Eleni Griva, and heads of Department of Chemical Engineering. First, both parties reviewed their cooperation since 2018 and their achievements on the aspects of joint student cultivation, Chinese-Greek cooperation programs between governments, and the construction of Sino-Greek Joint Research Lab for Bioenergy. Subsequently, representatives from BUCT and UOWM signed the School-level Memorandum of Understanding on Cooperation and expressed their wishes to continuously promote in-depth Sino-Greek programs for student exchange and scientific and technological cooperation and establish Sino-Greek educational and scientific cooperation platform. After the meeting, the delegation visited the campus, the offices, and the key labs of UOWM and interacted with the students.
The delegation visits the University of Western Macedonia.
The delegation interacts with students of UOWM.
On April 23, the delegation visited the University of Patras in Greece and had a meeting with its Vice-rector, Prof. Dionissios Mantzavinos and heads of Department of Civil Engineering, Department of Chemical Engineering, and the Industrial Systems Institute (Athena Research Center). Both parties extended full recognition for the cooperation since 2018 and the achievements on the aspects of joint cultivation of graduate students and scientific research. Later on, they had in-depth exchanges on the aspects of student exchange, teacher exchange, and application for Sino-Greek scientific research projects. After the meeting, the delegation visited the key labs in the University of Patras.
The delegation visits the University of Patras.
Representatives from the two universities sign the Cooperation Agreement.
On the morning of April 24th, the delegation visited the Technical University of Madrid (UPM) in Spain and had a meeting with President of the Social Council of UPM, Prof. Dr. Julio Lage González, and heads of School of Civil Engineering and other school representatives. BUCT and UPM reached preliminary agreement on launching cooperation on multiple aspects such as academic exchange for teachers, joint cultivation for students, student exchange programs, and construction of joint research labs. Representatives from the two universities signed the School-level Memorandum of Understanding on Cooperation and further promoted their in-depth cooperation.
The delegation visits the Technical University of Madrid.
On the afternoon of April 24th, the delegation visited the IMDEA Materials Institute in Spain and had in-depth exchanges with its Director, Prof. Dr. Jose Manuel Torralba, Head of the Technology Transfer and Innovation Office at IMDEA Materials Institute, Prof. Dr. Eduardo Troche Pesqueira, and Chief Scientist of Fire-retardant Materials, Pro. Dr. Wang Deyi. Both parties had an in-depth discussion on the aspects of dual-mentor joint cultivation program for postgraduates, teacher exchange, scientific research cooperation, and construction of joint center mechanism and mode. Later on, the delegation paid a visit to the laboratories of the Institute.
The delegation visits the IMDEA Materials Institute.
The delegation visits laboratories of the IMDEA Materials Institute.
On April 26th, the delegation visited the Polytechnic University of Catalonia (UPC) in Spain and had a meeting with UPC Vice-rector, Prof. Lourdes Reig Puig and heads of International Relations Bureau and School of Engineering. They exchanged ideas thoroughly on multiple aspects such as joint student cultivation, student exchange programs, joint scientific research projects for teachers, and the construction of joint research centers. Later on, the representatives from the two universities signed the School-level Memorandum of Understanding on Cooperation and discussed and reached agreement in terms of the contents and agendas of the planned activities such as exchange and communication and academic forums in 2024.
The delegation visits the Polytechnic University of Catalonia.
Representatives from the two universities sign the Cooperation Agreement.
The delegation’s visits to three countries in Asia and Europe is a major part of BUCT’s move of promoting education opening-up and “The Belt and Road” Education and Science and Technology Initiative. It also showcases a vivid picture of how BUCT’s opening up serves the general diplomatic situation of China. Through the tour visit, BUCT has further enhanced the communication and cooperation with universities and research institutes in Turkey, Greece, and Spain and achieved substantial progress in respects of student exchange, joint cultivation, scientific research cooperation, and collaborative construction of international joint research platforms. The visits lay a solid foundation for BUCT to continue improving innovative talents’ quality, promoting disciplinary and professional construction and expanding the international influence.