Delegation of SCUT visited universities in Spain, Portugal and France
From December 10th to 19th, Zhang Xichun, Secretary of the CPC SCUT Committee, led a delegation to visit the University of Lisbon in Portugal (Technical University of Lisbon), the Polytechnic University of Catalonia in Spain, and the Paris Descartes University in France. During the visiting Zhang Xichun signed university-level cooperation agreements and discussed about the concrete cooperation projects relevant to the fields of computer, chemistry, chemical engineering, and business management, which further developed and deepened the layout of the University’s education cooperation in the context of the Chinese “Belt and Road Initiative”.
The group photo with representatives of the Paris Descartes University
Arlindo Oliverira, President of Technical University of Lisbon, and Miguel Sileira, Vice President of Technical University of Lisbon, met the delegation led by Zhang Xichun. Arlindo Oliverira introduced the construction and development of Technical University of Lisbon and the university’s existed cooperation with China, and hoped that the two universities can promote practical cooperation in relevant fields. Zhang Xichun introduced the recent development of SCUT and the construction progress of the Guangzhou International Campus, and pointed out that the “Belt and Road” Initiative is a top-level design of China’s international education cooperation and exchanges, and a roadmap for China’s education to gradually become a world education center. Therefore, SCUT highly values the cooperation with the universities in Portugal, and innovatively proposes the trilateral cooperation agreement among Technical University of Lisbon, University of Macau and SCUT, to jointly design youth activities, scholar exchanges and curriculum development, so as to promote the cultural exchanges of the universities along the “Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area” and the “Belt and Road”, and in an effort to facilitate the all-round development of the international cooperation and exchanges in education on a larger scale, in wider areas and on a higher level. Zhang Xichun signed a “3+2” Combined Degree Project Agreement of Bachelor plus Master degrees with the representative of Technical University of Lisbon on behalf of SCUT, which will be first implemented in the fields of computer and chemical industry.
Zhang Xichun signed the “3+2” exchange agreement with Arlindo Oliverira
At the Polytechnic University of Catalonia, Zhang Xichun introduced the development of SCUT and the potential for the in-depth cooperation between the two universities. He particularly noted that as one of the top-ranked universities in China listed under the national “Double First-Class” University Project, SCUT will actively participate in the promotion of the opening-up and development of China’s higher education, and will work together to build an opening-up education pattern of “One Body -Two Wings”: with the “Belt and Road Initiative” as the main body, and the Sino-foreign cultural exchanges and the international cooperation and exchanges of education as the two wings. Juan Jesus Perez, Vice President of Polytechnic University of Catalonia, warmly welcomed Zhang Xichun and his delegation. After listening to the introduction, he highly appreciated the strategic positioning and rapid development of SCUT, and then pointed out that the two universities are similar in the disciplines layout and share broad prospects for future cooperation. Although this is the first time that the leaders of the two universities have met with each other, he is full of confidence and anticipation for the in-depth cooperation between the two universities. Subsequently, Zhang Xichun and Juan Jesus Perez signed a university-level cooperation framework agreement. The delegation also negotiated with the heads of School of Information, School of Oriental Engineering and School of Industry on the implementation of specific cooperation projects.
Meeting with representatives of Polytechnic University of Catalonia
Geoffrey Sockett, Vice President of Paris Descartes University in France, entrusted by Christine Clerici, President of Paris Descartes University, extended warm welcome to Zhang Xichun and his delegation, and expressed strong support for the cooperation and exchanges between the two universities in the fields of computer and biomedicine. He said that Paris Descartes University (Paris-V) will complete the merger of the three universities within this year and become the University of Paris, with its comprehensive ranking leaping to No. 3 in France. The practical cooperation between the two universities will extend to the University of Paris, and will be promoted at both the school-level and the university-level. Zhang Xichun said that France is the bellwether and engine for the European Union (EU), and China-France comprehensive strategic and cooperative partnership has remained firm and unchanged in the midst of great changes unseen in a century. For SCUT, France has always been one of its vital areas to carry out cooperation. Over the past decade, SCUT has sent more than 40 students to study in France every year. At present, there are more than 100 alumni of SCUT in France. Zhang Xichun expressed congratulations to Paris Descartes University on its merger and development, and encouraged the two universities to further strengthen cooperation and exchanges in a wider range of fields. Then the delegation held detailed discussions on project cooperation with the deans of Schools of Mathematics and Computer Science and School of Biomedicine. The relevant university-level cooperation intentions and the specific school-level cooperation agreements will be signed as soon as possible.
Translated and Edited by Chen Juncheng
Proofread by Wu Zhaosheng
Source from the GZIC, SCUT News Network