Institute of Energy and Transport Systems Supports Educational Focus on the East

The staff of the Institute of Energy and Transport Systems (IETS) of Peter the Great St. Petersburg Polytechnic University visited Chinese universities with the purpose of establishing contacts in the field of technical sciences and education, get acquainted with training programs in the field of energy engineering, and examine the laboratory facilities of Chinese universities for further cooperation.

The SPbPU delegation included V. V. Sergeyev, Head of the Department of Nuclear and Heat Power Engineering of the IETS, E. A. Sokolova, Vice-Director for International Relations, and A. S. Aleshina, Coordinator of the international educational program in power plant engineering.

Dynamic development of relations with China is a priority direction of SPbPU's educational policy. "Russia has recently enhanced cooperation with the BRICS countries, and China is one of the leaders of BRICS. This rapidly developing country has been extremely loyal to Russia, becoming a serious investor over the past few years. They are willing to invest in our research, development, and new educational technologies," claimed SPbPU Vice-Rector for International Relations D. G. ARSENIEV.

The visit to China involved negotiations with Zhejiang University (Hangzhou), Xi'an Jiaotong University (Xi'an), and Qingdao University of Science and Technology (Qingdao).

The delegation also visited the Northwestern Polytechnical University (Xi'an), the former President of which graduated from SPbPU in 1956, serving as a living example of the continuity of educational traditions and the history of cooperation between SPbPU and Chinese universities.

At Zhejiang University, SPbPU delegates met with the Vice-President Yonghua Song and the staff of the College of Energy Engineering. They visited the laboratories of the College and held an event for Chinese students, presenting the international master's degree programs of the IETS. There is a Russian Department at Zhejiang University, and the promotion of Russian culture and language is an integral part of the cultural work.

During the meeting, the parties discussed the exchange of students and teaching staff, co-supervision of master's degree students and postgraduates, and implementation of joint projects, while also expressing the willingness to submit joint proposals for grants and competitions. The parties reached an agreement on the participation of the students of Zhejiang University in the Polytechnic Energy Engineering Summer School and the 45th SPbPU Science Week.

The IETS delegation them traveled to Xi'an, which is widely considered to be the educational center of China. The representatives of Xi'an Jiaotong University showed particular interest in cooperation with SPbPU in the fields of heat, electric, and nuclear power engineering. Students of the Xi'an Jiaotong University will also take part in the Polytechnic Summer School and exchange programs planned for the 2016 fall semester. Chinese colleagues proposed to hold a bilateral forum on energy engineering as part of the Polytechnic Science Week.

At the Northwestern Polytechnical University, the SPbPU delegates presented the achievements of our researchers and the international programs of the IETS covering major areas of the activity of Russia's leading technical university.

The business trip ended in Qingdao. President of Qingdao University of Science and Technology Ma Lianxiang proposed to open an SPbPU representative office on the premises of his university and promised the support of the city authorities. Finally, the SPbPU delegation visited the laboratory of the College of Electrical Engineering.

According to the results of the trip, Chinese universities are highly interested in the development of the energy industry. The international focus of Russia and China is on the enhanced cooperation in the implementation of joint projects. In this regard, academic mobility and exchange of teaching staff and innovative ideas are the cornerstones of successful bilateral operation in global education.

International Educational Programs Office in association with the IETS, SPbPU