From November 24th to 27th, Jize Mao, Dean of theCollegeofAerospaceand Civil Engineering, led a delegation to the United Kingdom for a special exchange visit to the University of Aberdeen. The two sides held in-depth discussions on core topics including the optimization of Sino-foreign cooperative education programs, the promotion of joint doctoral training, collaborative scientific research and innovation, as well as talent exchange and introduction. This further consolidated the foundation of inter-university cooperation and expanded the path for international talent cultivation and development. Associate Professor Hongguang Wang and Counselor Dalong You from theCollegeaccompanied the delegation, while Yu Wang and Meng Fu, visiting scholars from theCollegeto the University of Aberdeen, provided full-time accompaniment throughout the visit.

Jointly Discuss Cooperative Education and Establish a Regular Mechanism. The delegation first held talks with Professor Ekaterina Pavlovskaia, Dean of the School of Engineering at the University of Aberdeen, Professor Ana Ivanovic, Director of International Affairs, Euan Bain, Director of Teaching Affairs, and Israel Osofero, Head of the Civil Engineering Program, focusing on the future development of the cooperative education program in Civil Engineering. The two sides exchanged views on issues such as curriculum system optimization, student training paths, English proficiency enhancement, and the connection of the "3+1" program. Dean Jize Mao fully affirmed the existing cooperation achievements and consulted with the other side to formulate improvement plans for the problems arising in the teaching process. The two sides agreed to establish a regular communication mechanism to jointly promote the quality improvement and upgrading of cooperative projects. Meanwhile, in-depth discussions were conducted on cooperation in areas such as collaborative scientific research and innovation, talent exchange and introduction, further expanding the dimensions of cooperation.

Focus on Teaching Quality and Build Consensus on Talent Cultivation. In the special seminar on improving teaching quality, the delegation had candid exchanges with course instructors and teachers from the Language Center of the University of Aberdeen. They shared views on current teaching implementation, the resolution of typical problems, and future curriculum optimization, and reached consensus on curriculum connection, examination management, academic atmosphere building, and engineering education accreditation. This laid a foundation for improving the cooperative education model.

Collaborate on Doctoral Training and Consolidate the Cooperation Framework. Regarding the specific matters of joint doctoral dual-degree training, the delegation held in-depth consultations with Professor Stuart Piertney, Dean of the Graduate School, and Professor Ekaterina Pavlovskaia, Dean of the School of Engineering at the University of Aberdeen. They clarified the cooperation path of "scientific research projects first, government approval in advance" and reached an agreement on specific details such as student selection criteria, schedule, quality control, and determination of research directions. Additionally, the two sides consulted and clarified support matters including students' tuition fees, living expenses, and research funds, pointing out the direction for building a sustainable joint doctoral dual-degree training framework in the future.

Care for Students' Growth and Encourage Through Talks and Exchanges. During the visit, the delegation held a meeting with students of Year 2022 Civil Engineering major (Sino-foreign cooperative education) who are continuing their studies in the UK. The students spoke enthusiastically and reported in detail their fruitful achievements in academic studies, English communication, cultural differences, living habits, and ideological growth during their time in the UK. Dean Jize Mao carefully listened to each student's sharing and affirmed their positive spirit and good learning attitude. Meanwhile, the delegation was invited to attend the 2025 Autumn Graduate Graduation Ceremony of the University of Aberdeen, further enhancing the emotional bond between the two universities.

This visit is an important practice of thecollege's high attention to international exchanges and unwavering commitment to promoting internationalization. Through multi-level and targeted exchanges and discussions, the cooperative consensus between the two universities in talent training at undergraduate, master's, and doctoral levels, as well as the improvement of teaching quality, has been effectively deepened. Pragmatic measures have been taken to broaden thecollege's path of international development. In the new stage of the "14th Five-Year Plan" development, theCollegeof Aerospaceand Civil Engineering will focus on building a new pattern of international cooperation featuring "two-way circulation and open integration", continue to strengthen the "characteristic-oriented" international partner network, consolidate and enhance thecollege's international reputation, and inject lasting momentum into the improvement of thecollege's running level and talent training quality.