On September 16th, the first rectorial conference on high-level strategic cooperation between Wuhan University of Technology (WUT) and University of Strathclyde was held online by President Zhang Qingjie who was then in Foshan, Guangdong Province, and Sir Jim McDonald, Principal of University of Strathclyde, since the two universities signed the interscholastic cooperation agreement in 2009.

WUT representatives in Wuhan and Foshan participated in the meeting simultaneously through the Internet, includingVice President Wang Fazhou and leaders of Academic Affairs Office, Graduate School, School of Automotive Engineering, School of Automation, School of Naval Architecture and Marine & Energy and Power Engineering, International Office and School of International Education.

Representatives of University of Strathclyde were Vice-Principal Atilla Incecik, Vice-Principal Alex Galloway,Special Advisor to the Principal Andrew Goudie, Special Advisor to the Principal Mrs. Fan Lin, and heads of Faculty of Engineering and three related departments: Naval Architecture, Ocean and Marine Engineering, Electronic and Electrical Engineering and Mechanical.

Two sides had a friendly and lively communication for their further international cooperation.

Both principals agreed that international cooperation between WUT and University of Strathclyde was of great importance. Challenges brought about by the new international landscape after the COVID-19 pandemic had provided more necessary choices for a long-term friendly strategic partnership between the two universities. Therefore, the same or similar disciplinary backgrounds would promote exchanges of teachers and students at both sides, and further cooperation in scientific research also could help that of faculties.

Based on previous cooperation and communication, President Zhang Qingjie and Prof. Sir Jim McDonald agreed to sign the agreement on cooperation in international undergraduate classes for some majors, “1+1+1” postgraduate programs, Chinese-foreign cooperative education projects, student mobility programs, summer camp programs, teacher exchange programs, and scientific cooperation programs. At the online ceremony, the Memorandum of Cooperation between WUT and University of Strathclyde was signed.

The online high-level conference on strategic cooperation further expanded the cooperation and exchange between the two universities. It was expected that the bilateral cooperation would be implemented during the "14th Five-Year Plan" period, so as to promote WUT's internationalization and development under the "Double First-Class" initiative.

Notes:

Founded in 1796, the University of Strathclyde has a long history. It ranked 23rd in the overall institutional ranking of The Times and The Sunday Times Good University Guide 2021; 15th in The Guardian University Guide 2021; 32nd in Times Higher Education (THE) Impact Rankings 2021. According to the 2020 Times Guide, the university takes the 4th place for Mechanical Engineering in the UK; 5th for Electrical and Electronic Engineering; 4th for Chemical and Process Engineering; and 3rd for Architecture. In the 2021 Global Ranking of Academic Subjects published by Shanghai Ranking, Strathclyde are rated 4th in the world for Marine/Ocean Engineering and number one in the UK,  among 76-100 for Electrical and Electronic Engineering and 151-200 for Mechanical Engineering globally.

The student exchange agreement, signed between WUT and University of Strathclyde in 2009, has been extended into “2+2/4+1/1+1+1” PhD programs in science and engineering and “2+2/3+1+1/4+1” programs in business and management. In 2020, the two universities have jointly opened China-UK joint classes (for NEVs and ICVs) in School of Automotive Engineering at WUT, with its first batch of 33 students. The University of Strathclyde has long been dedicated to actively promoting international cooperation with Chinese counterparts. And Prof. Sir Jim McDonald, Principal of the university and President of Royal Academy of Engineering, was once invited to attend a foreign specialist symposium chaired by Premier Li Keqiang, in January 2020.

Written by: Song Ming, Cao Jianshu

Rewritten by: Zhang Xiangqi

Photographed by: Yao Hong

Edited by: Li Tiantian

Proofread by: Li Ling

Source: School of International Education

http://news.whut.edu.cn/zhxw/202109/t20210917_852188.shtml