On April 3, a delegation led by Professor Colm Durkan, Head of Department of Engineering at the University of Cambridge and Fellow of the Royal Academy of Engineering, visited East China University of Science and Technology (ECUST). Vice President Zhu Weihong met with the delegation, accompanied by Dean Li Xiaopeng of the College of International Education and Deputy Director Tang Jimin of the International Affairs Office.

Photo caption: Zhu Weihong meets with Professor Durkan

Vice President Zhu Weihong welcomed the Cambridge delegation and briefed them on ECUST’s recent development and research achievements. He noted that since 2020, ECUST has introduced and jointly developed the “Neural Networks and Deep Learning” course with Cambridge professors. ECUST also organizes Chinese and international students to participate in Cambridge summer research programmes each year, with 240 students having taken part to date. In August 2023, the two universities signed a Memorandum of Understanding. Zhu expressed the hope to further deepen collaboration in joint research projects, course co-development, and the joint cultivation of international talent.

Professor Colm Durkan remarked that this was his first visit to ECUST and that he was deeply impressed by the university’s research accomplishments and the academic spirit of its faculty and students. He looks forward to continuing to strengthen friendly relations with ECUST, laying a solid foundation for future practical cooperation in areas such as highlevel research talent exchange and joint student training.

Photo caption: Cooperation meeting

During the cooperation discussion, the two sides held indepth talks on organising joint summer camps and advanced innovative talent workshops. The Cambridge delegation also visited the Feringa Nobel Prize Scientist Joint Research Centre.

Photo caption: The Cambridge delegation visits the Nobel Prize Centre

Following the meeting, Professor Colm Durkan engaged in an interactive Q&A session with ECUST faculty and students, offering advice on study and career development for engineering students.

Photo caption: Q&A session