To further strengthen educational and scientific collaboration with Europe and enhance the quality and efficiency of international education at our institute, ICARE’s Chinese Dean, Prof. Luo Xiaobing, recently joined a delegation led by Academician Zhang Guangjun, Chair of HUST University Committee, on visits to several leading universities and institutions in France and the United Kingdom. A series of strategic cooperation seminars and thematic academic exchanges were held, producing fruitful outcomes.
Deepening Cooperation with France: Cultivating Elite Engineers and Engaging with International Organizations
During his stay in France, Prof. Luo focused on engaging with the ParisTech. He met with Christian Lerminiaux, Chairman of ParisTech and Director of Chimie ParisTech - PSL, and witnessed the signing of HUST-ParisTech student exchange agreement. At a joint workshop on education and research collaboration, Prof. Luo comprehensively summarized the achievements of ICARE’s collaboration with ParisTech member schools. He shared innovative practices in joint engineering talent cultivation and proposed new initiatives to deepen strategic cooperation, which were well received by the French participants.
Prof. Luo also paid a special visit to Mr. Yang Xinyu, the Chinese Ambassador-level Representative to UNESCO. He highlighted ICARE’s accomplishments in training talents for international organizations. The two sides discussed how ICARE could contribute to UNESCO’s sustainable development projects and provide professional expertise, thereby creating new opportunities for ICARE to engage in global governance.
Expanding Cooperation with the UK: Scientific Research Innovation and Joint Talent Cultivation
In the UK, Prof. Luo visited Queen Mary University of London, the University of Oxford, the University of Bristol, and Imperial College London, focusing on global trends in engineering education and fostering high-level cooperation in scientific research and talent development.
At Queen Mary University of London, Prof. Luo and the delegation met with Sir Mark Caulfield, Vice Principal (Health) of the university. They explored the university’s advanced talent training models and reviewed the joint research seed fund initiative, generating new ideas for ICARE’s sustainable development.
At the University of Oxford, Prof. Luo met with Prof. Martin Williams, Pro-Vice-Chancellor (Education), and his team. He reviewed the outcomes of the summer research internship program between HUST and Oxford, engaged in discussions with past interns, and outlined an upgrade plan for the program. He also met with Prof. Philipp Grunewald, head of the Energy Demand Observatory and Laboratory (EDOL), to discuss potential collaboration in the energy sector.
At the University of Bristol, Prof. Luo met with Vice-Chancellor and President Prof. Evelyn Welch and Assoc. Pro Vice-Chancellor-Internationalization Liang-Fong Wong, and witnessed the renewal of the cooperation memorandum. He presented ICARE’s key achievements in international education, innovation training, and industry integration. Both sides agreed to strengthen collaboration in areas such as carbon neutrality and new energy technologies, aiming for joint scientific breakthroughs and enhanced talent development.
At Imperial College London, Prof. Luo held in-depth discussions with Academician Alexei Kornyshev, Chair Professor in Chemistry and Physics and Honorary Professor at HUST. They explored the establishment of a joint research center for energy storage at the Junshan International Campus, further advancing cooperation in the field of new energy.
Prof. Luo also participated in the 14th East Lake Forum – Overseas Sub-Forum, organized by HUST. He presented ICARE’s disciplinary strengths in energy, talent recruitment needs, and support policies to more than 100 young scholars, inviting global talent to contribute to ICARE’s mission of building a world-class energy discipline.
Marking the 50th anniversary of China–EU diplomatic relations, this visit reinforced ICARE’s partnerships with leading European institutions and injected new momentum into the high quality development of its international education. ICARE will continue to act as a bridge, deepening Sino-European cooperation in science and education, and supporting HUST in building a new model of higher education collaboration with Europe.
