In response to China's national strategy for high-level educational openness and to deepen educational collaborations in the Asia-Pacific region, South China University of Technology (SCUT) has been expanding its globalization efforts. From November 27 to December 6, 2025, University President Tang Hongwu led a delegation to Singapore, where they signed talent development and research cooperation agreements with multiple world-class universities. The delegation also conducted productive exchange activities, including academic forums, alumni symposiums, and visits to the Embassy in Singapore. These efforts have significantly advanced SCUT's educational collaboration in the Asia-Pacific region. Dean Peng Xinwen of our school accompanied the delegation during the visit.

Under the leadership of President Tang Hongwu, our school's Dean Peng Xinwen and the delegation actively engaged in meeting with the National University of Singapore, Nanyang Technological University, and multiple institutions of the Singapore Agency for Science, Technology and Research (A*STAR). The discussions focused on international cooperation in high-level talent cultivation, scientific research collaboration, laboratory construction, and the recruitment of international students, yielding fruitful outcomes.

At the National University of Singapore and Nanyang Technological University, our school’s delegation held discussions with distinguished scholars including Academician Loh Kianping, Academician Wang Danwei, Academician Chen Xiaodong, Professor Liu Bin, Associate Professor Zhai Wei, and Professor Xi Shibao, while exploring potential collaborations. The delegation also engaged in meeting with outstanding graduate students and postdoctoral researchers that were interested in further studies. Dean Peng Xinwen systematically presented the comprehensive educational capabilities, disciplinary structure, research infrastructure, and high-level talent cultivation system of SCUT, and particularly highlighted the School of Light Industry and Engineering's interdisciplinary research strengths in advanced papermaking and innovative biomass-based materials. Participating scholars and researchers demonstrated keen interest in our university's robust research facilities, cutting-edge platforms, open academic environment, and multidisciplinary talent development model, creating a vibrant atmosphere for the discussions.

At research institutions including A*STAR, the school’s delegation held in-depth discussions on scientific collaboration and laboratory development. The discussions focused on building high-level research platforms, joint graduate training programs, and exchanges between postdoctoral researchers and young scholars. Key discussions centered on how China's light industry disciplines can align with global sustainable development and the “Dual Carbon” strategy. The delegation also engaged in discussions on future research directions, including synchrotron radiation source facilities, in-situ micro/nano-material characterization, advanced biomass-based materials, biomass valoriztion, and AI-driven simulation of advanced material synthesis processes. Agreements were made together to establish multi-dimensional cooperation in joint research breakthroughs, shared high-level platform development, and reciprocal talent training, aiming to deepen and broaden the collaborative fields.

Photo and text: Huang Chao, Li Tingzhen

First Review: Tan Xun'en

Review: Peng Xinwen

Final Review: Zhang Jiangong