In response to the provincial party committee and government’s policy of “Deep Cooperation with Japan and Korea” in foreign affairs and to consolidate and strengthen exchanges and cooperation between our school and Japanese universities, from May 13 to 17, President Yan Weidong led a group of four people from Civil Engineering College, Jiaotong College and International Exchange Office to visit Saitama Institute of Technology, Meijo University and Osaka University. The delegation also visited our part-time overseas professors and some outstanding alumni working and studying in Japan. During the visit, President Yan Weidong had in-depth exchanges with people from all walks of life in Japanese universities on many aspects such as interschool exchanges, scientific research cooperation, personnel training, and administrative management. The two sides reached many consensus and the visit yielded fruitful results.

During the visit to Saitama Institute of Technology, President Yan Weidong and his delegation met with Ju Dongying, vice president of the university. The two sides conducted in-depth discussions on the training of young teachers and scientific research cooperation, and reached broad consensus. President Yan Weidong and his delegation visited the advanced material laboratory and mechanical laboratory of the university, and then learned about Japan's cutting-edge science and technology in materials and machinery. Later, the delegation had a discussion with the professor of the Machinery Institute, and had a detailed understanding of this school’s personnel training model.

During the visit to Osaka University, President Yan Weidong and his delegation met with Miyamoto, minister of Engineering and Science of Osaka University. The two sides have conducted in-depth discussions on the cooperation of the Double Master Degree Program and reached their cooperation intentions. In addition, President Yan Weidong and his delegation met with Qingshi Fujita, director of the school’s international office. The two sides exchanged views on the long-term and short-term exchange student projects and the establishment of international cooperation committee, and agreed to sign relevant agreements in the near future. Relevant personnel from the Ministry of Engineering and Science, International Exchange and Special Affairs of the University participated in the above talks.

During the visit to Meijo University, President Yan Weidong and his delegation met with Saito Gongming, minister of Science and Engineering of the University. The two sides agreed to cooperate on the basis of the rich experience accumulated by Meijo University in the field of scientific research over the years. During the visit, President Yan Weidong and his delegation also visited Ge Hanbin, a well-known professor, academician of the Japanese Academy of Engineering and part-time professor of our university. Accompanied by him, the delegation visited the structural laboratory and geotechnical laboratory of Meijo University, which is the largest comprehensive private university in central Japan. Its honorary professor, Yoshio Kazaki, won the Nobel Prize in Physics in 2014.

During the visit, President Yan Weidong and his delegation also met with Dr. Shi Junji, a civil engineering alumnus of our university worked in structural design department of Japan Construction Design Corporation, learned about his work and research in Japan, and invited him to return to his alma mater. Shi Junji thanked his alma mater for the concern and planned to return to participate in scientific research work in the near future. In addition, the delegation also visited Sun Jubo, an alumnus of Road and Bridge major in our university, who is studying for a doctorate in Meijo University. The delegation had a detailed understanding of his study and life in Japan, and encouraged him to return to work after he had completed his studies.

The three visits to Japanese universities strengthened the communication between our school and the senior leaders of these universities, promoted the academic exchange between our school and Japanese universities, deepened the understanding of Japanese engineering education, and provided reference for the training of talents and the construction of teaching staff. At the same time, it provided an overseas cooperation platform for the construction of architecture, civil engineering and machinery disciplines in the future, and it laid a solid foundation for further enhancing the influence of international cooperation and building internationally renowned universities in the future.