From June 9 to 10, Professor Yonghua Song, Fellow of the Royal Academy of Engineering and Rector of the University of Macau (UM), led a delegation to the Eastern Institute of Technology, Ningbo (EIT). Professor Shiyi Chen, President of EIT and Member of the Chinese Academy of Sciences, met with Rector Yonghua Song and his delegation. The two sides held in-depth discussions on topics including the development of new-type research universities, internationalization strategies, residential college systems, undergraduate education models, and collaborative research innovation.
Rector Yonghua Song expressed his gratitude to President Shiyi Chen for the warm reception. He noted that EIT is actively exploring a distinctive path for new-type research universities with Chinese characteristics, demonstrating strong development potential and vitality, particularly in talent aggregation and research output. As a distinguished representative of Asia’s residential college system, the University of Macau is actively integrating into the development of the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area and the Guangdong-Macao In-Depth Cooperation Zone in Hengqin, accelerating its "cross-border one university, two campuses" development paradigm, and continuously enhancing its capacity for international education and collaborative innovation, striving to build an international comprehensive research university. The two universities are highly aligned in their educational philosophies and internationalization trajectories, with both committed to fostering an open, diverse, and international education environment.
He expressed his hope that both sides will further strengthen mutual learning and exchange in areas such as talent cultivation philosophy, residential college development, and student mobility, jointly exploring pathways for building high-level research universities.
President Shiyi Chen extended a warm welcome to Rector Yonghua Song and his delegation. He pointed out that the University of Macau is dedicated to contributing to the development of the Macao Special Administrative Region, leveraging its locational advantages to cultivate high-level talent that meets the nation's needs and Macao's strengths. In particular, its distinct characteristics and extensive experience in residential college development, whole-person education, and internationalization provide significant inspiration for talent cultivation at EIT. As a newly established research university supported by both private and public funding, EIT shoulders the core mission of assembling world-class faculty, building first-rate disciplines, cultivating top-tier talent, and producing outstanding research outcomes.
He expressed the hope that, leveraging the innovation resources of the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area and the Yangtze River Delta, the two institutions will deepen collaboration in fields such as artificial intelligence, integrated circuits, intelligent manufacturing, and new materials, promoting the sharing of research resources, high-level talent exchange, and cross-regional research synergy, jointly serving national scientific and technological innovation and the high-quality development of higher education.
Professor Dongxiao Zhang, Executive Vice President and Provost of EIT, Member of the U.S. National Academy of Engineering, provided an overview of EIT's educational positioning, disciplinary layout, and internationalization progress. Professor Zongwei Cai, Associate Vice President and Dean of the College of Science of EIT; and Professor Ming Zhou, Dean of the College of Engineering of EIT and Member of the U.S. National Academy of Engineering, were also present at the meeting. The discussion was moderated by Professor Chuanwu Xi, Vice Provost for Global Engagement.
During the visit, Rector Yonghua Song and his delegation also toured the EIT campus and the Laboratory of All-Solid-State Battery, gaining an in-depth understanding of the institute's development in disciplinary planning and research platform construction.
