In order to broaden global horizons and cultivate international thinking, students from Engineering Mechanics Innovation Class of Grade 2017 embarked on a two-day exchange internship trip to Hong Kong led by Mr. Wang Jiong and Ms. Meng Lingyi on July 15, 2019.
The students visited the laboratories of the City University of Hong Kong and the Hong Kong Polytechnic University. They gained preliminary understanding on the development of the civil engineering industry in Hong Kong and explored the campus life there.
On the afternoon of July 15, the students visited the City University of Hong Kong to listen to the academic reports on the development of civil engineering in Hong Kong and the construction of Tseung Kwan O Bridge by two experts from China Road and Bridge Engineering Co., Ltd.. Among them, Mr. Kan made an in-depth and comprehensive analysis of the roles and opportunities of civil engineers in Belt and Road Initiative. Mr. Kan had also put forward higher requirements for engineers to have a great sense of social responsibility in the new era from the experience and achievements of implementing Belt and Road Initiative on Chinese roads and bridges.Mr. Kan also compared the construction methods of roads and bridges between Hong Kong and the mainland, which enabled students to have a basic understanding of the construction mode of roads and bridges in Hong Kong and broadened their horizons. Taking the Tseung Kwan O Bridge as an example, Mr. Wang explained in detail the whole process from design to construction of the bridge by sharing his own experience, which was vivid and easy to understand. Students not only learned about the whole process of bridge construction in Hong Kong, but also learned more professional knowledge and benefited a lot.
Figure 1. Chinese road and bridge experts, ICE members, teachers of City University of Hong Kong, teachers and students of South China University of Technology
After the end of the report, members of the Institute of Civil Engineering (referred to as ICE) introduced the basic situation, application process and membership rights of ICE. Teachers also encouraged students to register as ICE members and take the initiative to broaden their international horizons.
On the morning of July 16, the students visited many laboratories, such as the structural Engineering Research Laboratory and the Rock Mechanics Laboratory, under the leadership of the laboratory teacher of the City University of Hong Kong. The teachers introduced many kinds of cutting-edge research and progress on graphene and rock mechanics that were being carried out in the laboratory. It gave students a deeper perception of scientific research and provided students with broader ideas and choices for future scientific research.
Figure 2. The laboratory teacher explained a new concrete material and its application.
Figure 3. Students and teacher from Engineering Mechanics Innovation Class of Grade 2017 (photo taken at the City University of Hong Kong)
On the afternoon of July 16, the students went to the Hong Kong Polytechnic University to visit the Acoustics Laboratory, the Materials and Mechanics Technology Laboratory, and the Measurement and Control Laboratory of the Department of Mechanical Engineering of the Hong Kong Polytechnic University. The teachers systematically introduced the principles and applications of advanced experimental equipment such as 3D printers and equipment for processing materials, and encouraged students to participate in scientific research with sufficient self-confidence and enthusiasm in the future.
Figure 4. Students in the Acoustics Laboratory of the Hong Kong Polytechnic University.
Figure 5. Students were listening to the principle and application of instruments and equipment in the science and technology laboratory of materials and mechanics.
Figure 6. Teachers and students and from Engineering Mechanics Innovation Class of Grade 2017 (photo taken at the Hong Kong Polytechnic University)
Overseas study and exchange is an important way for students to broaden their horizons, so that students in the Innovation class had a wider vision and laid a more solid foundation for scientific research. I believe that this two-day exchange trip will bring students deep insights to their subject, help students build up the confidence to do a good job in mechanics research, and make students better prepared for their research in mechanics.