On September 25-26, Professor Anna Korre, Associate Provost of Imperial College London, led a delegation to South China University of Technology (SCUT). The two institutions held a seminar for in-depth discussions on advancing sustainable development and strengthening practical cooperation. In addition, Professor Korre also delivered an open lecture on sustainability to SCUT faculty, staff and students. Dr. ZHANG Xichun, Chairman of the University Council, and Dr. LI Weiqing, Deputy Secretary of the CPC SCUT Committee and Vice President of the university met with Professor Korre and attended the seminar and her lecture as well.

Dr. ZHANG Xichun addressing at the seminar

In his address, Dr. ZHANG Xichun expressed appreciation for Professor Korre's valuable insights into SCUT's sustainable development initiatives. He emphasized that, against the backdrop of globalization, climate change, and technological innovation, sustainability has become a central driver of growth in higher education. SCUT has long embraced this concept and has made notable strides in disciplinary development, campus governance, and social services. Dr. ZHANG called on relevant departments to adopt a global perspective and take concrete measures to further advance the university's sustainability agenda and accelerate its progress toward joining the ranks of the world's top 100 universities.

Professor Anna Korre addressing at the seminar

At the seminar, Professor Korre firstly listened to reports presented by the Guangzhou International Campus Administration Office, the Architectural Design Institute, the School of Electric Power, and the School of Environment and Energy. Building on preliminary data analysis, she provided forward-looking recommendations, underscoring that sustainable development is a long-term commitment. She advised breaking down silos between departments and enhancing organizational and individual innovation capacity at the Guangzhou International Campus. In addition, she proposed establishing dedicated platforms to promote sustainability through systematic top-level planning, staffing, and hardware and software support.

Letter of appointment presentation ceremony

Before the open lecture, Dr. ZHANG Xichun presented Professor Korre with a letter of appointment as SCUT's Chief Advisor for Sustainable Development. In her lecture, Professor Korre elaborated on Imperial College London's sustainability strategies and practices, including the integration of sustainability principles into teaching, research, and industry collaboration. She stressed the importance of interdisciplinary cooperation and community engagement, noting that China is Imperial College's largest research partner in science, engineering, and medicine. With a solid foundation already in place, she expressed optimism about future collaborative initiatives, such as establishing a sustainable development alliance.

Professor Korre delivering an open lecture on sustainability to SCUT faculty and students

During her stay, Professor Korre visited the Guangzhou International Campus, where she provided insights and recommendations for enhancing its sustainable development. The delegation also toured XPENG, a leading electric vehicle company founded by SCUT alumni, to explore potential university-industry collaboration opportunities.

Moving forward, SCUT will continue to deepen both its international engagement and domestic integration. The university will seek strategic collaboration with Imperial College London in the field of sustainable development. Based on the existing student exchange programs, the two institutions will explore comprehensive cooperation in areas such as joint laboratories, offshore innovation centers, cross-border industry-academia-research partnerships, and talent development. By leveraging resources from Chinese, British, and European partners, together with industry collaboration, the two institutions aim to establish a world-leading, multidisciplinary platform for sustainability research.

Source from SCUT News

Translated by XU Cenlin

Initial Review by AN Yufan

Final Review by WU Zhaosheng