BUCT Delegation Visits 3 European Countries
From July 3 to July 12, Qu Yan, Deputy Secretary of the Party Committee and Secretary of the Disciplinary Committee of Beijing University of Chemical Technology, led a delegation to visit the University of Miskolc in Hungary, the University of Cambridge, the University of Oxford, the University of Birmingham, Queen Mary University of London in the UK and the University College Cork in Ireland. The purpose of the visit is to advance the development of Confucius Institutes, enhance inter-university cooperation, facilitate student and faculty exchanges, and promote collaborative research. Members of the delegation include Gao Hongxia, Party Secretary of the School of Economics and Management, Sun Xiangdong, Associate Dean of the School of Economics and Management, Teng Da, Director of the International Cooperation Center of the School of Economics and Management, and Li Xianlong, Director of the Office of Student Overseas Studies in the International Exchange and Cooperation Department.
From July 3 to July 5, the delegation attended the 2024 Central and Eastern European Confucius Institutes Joint Meeting, visited the University of Miskolc, Confucius Institute at University of Miskolc, and Wanhua BorsodChem Company, and paid a visit to the Chinese Embassy in Hungary.
Their first stop was the University of Miskolc where the delegation attended a tripartite meeting organized by the university with the participation of Wanhua BorsodChem Company. During the meeting, Qu Yan delivered a speech. Both the University of Miskolc and Wanhua BorsodChem Company highly acknowledged what Confucius Institute has achieved over the past 11 years and its significant contributions to the friendship between China and Hungary. Discussions at the meeting focused on the reverse 2+2 undergraduate program of chemical engineering and the like, the program’s plan, implementation and scale. A tripartite agreement on student joint training was signed at the meeting.
Delegation Visits the University of Miskolc
During their visit to the University of Miskolc, the delegation toured the university’s Institute of Metallurgical and Foundry Engineering and the Miskolc-Bosch Hungary Joint Laboratory, and held in-depth discussions with the heads of the lab on research in materials science and electrical engineering. Following the tour, the delegation visited the Confucius Institute at the University of Miskolc where they engaged in a discussion session with the institute’s Chinese and foreign staff, students, and representatives from Wanhua BorsodChem. They were briefed on the work of the Confucius Institute by Zhao Jing, the Chinese director of the institute. Deputy Secretary Qu Yan, representing BUCT extended a warm greeting to the staff of the Confucius Institute and expressed sincere gratitude for their work. She also offered suggestions and guidance for the future development of the Confucius Institute.
Delegation at the Laboratory of the University of Miskolc
Delegation Visits the Confucius Institute at the University of Miskolc
During the delegation’s stay in Hungary, Deputy Secretary Qu Yan participated in the 2024 Joint Conference of Confucius Institutes and Independent Confucius Classrooms in Central and Eastern Europe on behalf of BUCT and delivered a report titled “Leveraging the Advantages of Chemical Engineering to Achieve Innovative Development of the Miskolc Confucius Institute” which received widespread acclaim from the attendees.
Qu Yan Speaks at the 2024 Joint Conference of Confucius Institutes and Independent Confucius Classrooms in Central and Eastern Europe
In their visit to Wanhua BorsodChem Company, the delegation engaged in discussions with company representatives and toured the newly constructed plant area and the local support projects. As the co-builder of the Confucius Institute at the University of Miskolc, Wanhua BorsodChem has provided substantial support for the institute’s construction. During the meeting, both parties discussed about the joint construction of the Confucius Institute, university-industry collaboration in talent training, and scientific research.
Delegation Visits Wanhua BorsodChem Company
Before leaving Hungary, the delegation visited the Chinese Embassy in Hungary and held talks with Han Dongsheng, the Education Counselor. Qu Yan reported to Han Dongsheng on the objectives and outcomes of this visit, including participation in the 2024 Joint Conference of Confucius Institutes and Independent Confucius Classrooms in Central and Eastern Europe, and requested the embassy’s policy guidance and support for the cooperation between BUCT and the University of Miskolc. Han Dongsheng expressed thanks to the visitors while speaking highly of the visit, noting that the Confucius Institute at the University of Miskolc serves as an important window and bridge for cultural exchange between China and Hungary. He hoped that BUCT would seize this visit as an opportunity to continue leveraging the advantages of university-industry collaborations in building the Confucius Institute amidst the current complex international situation. Han Dongsheng also stated that the embassy would strongly support the construction of the Confucius Institute at the University of Miskolc and the comprehensive cooperation between the two universities.
Qu Yan in Discussion with Han Dongsheng, Education Counselor at the Chinese Embassy in Hungary
From July 6 to July 11, the delegation visited the University of Cambridge, the University of Oxford, the University of Birmingham, and Queen Mary University of London.
When visiting the University of Cambridge, the delegation met with Professor Adrian Fisher, Director ofthe Centre for Research in Electrochemical Science and Technology. In the meeting, Professor Fisher detailed the achievements of the fourteen-year collaboration between the two universities in summer schools and outlined the vision for a planned short-term student training program in the field of economics and management with BUCT. Qu Yan fully acknowledged Professor Fisher’s contributions to the internationalization efforts of BUCT and hoped that both institutions will continue enhancing their collaborative efforts in international joint laboratories and joint student training. After the meeting, the delegation visited Murray Edwards College at Cambridge which is responsible for providing teaching and residential services for the summer school programs conducted with BUCT.
Delegation Visits the University of Cambridge
At Queen Mary University of London, the delegation had talks with Patrick McGurk, the Dean of Education and representatives from the School of Economics and Management and the International Department. The two sides reached a preliminary intention of cooperation in faculty and student exchange and joint student training. Established in 1915, Queen Mary University of London is a member of the prestigious Russell Group of British research universities. It ranks 100th globally in the 2024 U.S. News World University Rankings and 145th in the 2024 QS World University Rankings or 21st in the UK.
Delegation Visits Queen Mary University of London
During their visit to the University of Oxford, the delegation met with Wang Shidong, the Director of the Oxford Prospect and Global Development Institute (OPGDI), and other key officials. Wang Shidong introduced in detail the achievements of the OPGDI in fostering Sino-British cultural and academic exchanges. After the meeting, the delegation toured Regent’s College and Wolfson College at Oxford University. Responsible for managing academic and cultural exchange programs between Chinese universities and Oxford's Regent's College for years, OPGDI has cooperated with BUCT in online faculty lectures and summer/winter school programs.
Delegation Visits the University of Oxford
During their visit to the University of Birmingham, the delegation had discussions with Jon Frampton, the Deputy Vice-Chancellor, as well as representatives from the Birmingham Business School and the International Office. The talks focused on advancing joint student training, faculty exchange, summer schools, and collaboration in science and technology, including the negotiation on signing an agreement for joint student training programs in economics and management. Then the delegation toured the Business School and its associated research institutes at the University of Birmingham. The university has had a fruitful cooperation with BUCT since 2010 in research and joint student training in chemical engineering, materials science, and chemistry. Professor Roy L. Johnston of the University of Birmingham was appointed as a part-time professor at BUCT in 2013.
Delegation Visits the University of Birmingham
On July 12, the delegation visited the University College Cork in Ireland. During the visit, the delegation met with Christopher Brown, the Director of the International Office, and representatives from the Business School for discussion that focused on advancing joint student training, faculty exchange, summer schools, and cooperation in science and technology. Preliminary intention to establish a dual-degree MA program was reached. Following the discussion, the delegation toured the main colleges and research units of University College Cork. In 2017, the university signed a cooperation agreement with BUCT of establishing a platform for joint student training, semester exchanges, and summer schools at the institutional level.
Delegation Visits the University College Cork
During their stay in the UK, the delegation also met with local Chinese scholars and doctoral students who shared with the visitors their study, work, and life there. In the meeting, Qu Yan conveyed greetings from Beijing University of Chemical Technology and sincerely hoped that these scholars working abroad would consider returning to China and invited them to join BUCT to contribute to the nation’s academic research and development.
Delegation Meets with Chinese Scholars and Doctoral Students in the UK
The delegation’s visit to the three European countries is a crucial initiative to advance BUCT’s “Double First-Class” construction, the “One Body, Two Wings” strategy for educational openness, and internationalization efforts. Showcasing BUCT’s achievements in serving national strategic needs, this visit has deepened our exchange and cooperation with universities in Hungary, the UK, and Ireland, expanded new areas of cooperation and exchange programs in these countries. Substantial progress has been made in student exchange, joint student training, and research cooperation, which will further enhance BUCT’s pursuit of high-quality development, improve the quality of innovative talent cultivation, promote the construction of professional and academic disciplines, and expand our global influence.