Delegation of the Faculty of Engineering in China

A delegation from the Faculty of Technology of the University of Debrecen held talks with five leading Chinese universities and representatives of three major engineering companies, during which joint education and research programmes were prepared. Several agreements were reached that will contribute to strengthening the international position of the faculty in the long term.

The University of Debrecen (DE) Faculty of Engineering (MK) delegation first visited one of Asia's leading research universities, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, where the focus of the talks was on cooperation between the graduate schools of mechanical and electrical engineering.

- In addition to the presentation of the main research projects, discussions on the preparation of joint doctoral programmes and mobility opportunities were also launched. The meeting is a significant step towards building long-term scientific relations," said Géza Husi, Dean of the DE MK, who led the delegation.

The delegation also visited Shanghai DianJi University, where the parties agreed to exchange lecturers and organise visiting lecturer programmes.

Géza Husi added that they also visited Ningbo Tech University in Ningbo, a city of nine and a half million people near the East China Sea. The Chinese institution is seeking to build strong international links and is looking for internationally recognised partners.

- The cooperation with the University of Debrecen and the Faculty of Technology is considered to be of strategic importance. During the negotiations, the launch of a joint doctoral sub-programme was discussed, as well as the strengthening of student mobility, the head of the faculty said.

Discussions at Nanjing University of Aeronautics and Astronautics focused on the alignment of curricula for the BSc in Automotive Engineering, the parties reviewed possible credit transfer solutions and discussed faculty and student exchange programmes. The aim is to develop a common training model in aeronautical and automotive engineering.

One of the most important results of the trip is that, with the support of the University of Shanghai Electric Power, a sub-programme could be launched at UD’s Imre Pekár PhD School with a Chinese partner institution, to which the University of Shanghai will delegate three core members. In addition, the two institutions will jointly participate in the Innovative Talent International Cooperation Training Program+, funded by the China Scholarship Council. The grant will enable the mobility of PhD students, lecturers and MSc students in both directions.

- The series of visits has produced decisive results in the long term. The joint doctoral programmes, student and faculty mobility, curricular cooperation, participation in international research platforms, faculty and student exchanges contribute to raising the faculty's scientific potential, increasing its international visibility, ensuring quality postgraduate education and enhancing its competitiveness on the global higher education stage, said Géza Husi.

Members of the Debrecen delegation also met with representatives of several leading Chinese technology companies. They held meetings with representatives of LK Group, SEMCORP and EVE Energy Co., Ltd. and visited the prestigious Shanghai International Foundry Exhibition.

- For almost two decades, our faculty has been one of the most dynamic players in the field of engineering education in Hungary. It is committed to closely linking theoretical knowledge with practical industrial needs. A key objective of the trip was to strengthen the faculty's links with players in the global technology ecosystem, fostering joint development in the fields of smart manufacturing, new energy sources and talent management," said the Dean of MK.

The LK Group, SEMCORP and EVE Energy Co, Ltd. have all indicated their participation in the Innovation Forum on Digital Design and Manufacturing, which will take place in Debrecen on 16 October. The programme is jointly organised by DE MK and Shanghai DianJi University under the One Belt, One Road Science and Technology Initiative, supported by the Chinese government. The event aims to provide a common development platform for industry, academia and research, launching new tangible projects in the fields of sustainable development, green energy and Industry 4.0.

- The series of visits clearly shows that the Faculty of Engineering is not only following global technological trends, but actively shaping them. The Faculty aims to train the engineers of the future in an environment where knowledge, industrial experience and international partnership go hand in hand. A comprehensive partnership has been established with all three companies to support BSc, MSc and PhD courses. In addition, each company has committed to offer industrial PhD topics, thus strengthening the link between research and industry," summarised Dean Géza Husi.