Translation. Region: Russian Federation –
Source: Peter the Great St. Petersburg Polytechnic University –
An important disclaimer is at the bottom of this article.
The Leningrad Polytechnic University hosted a delegation from one of the world's most prestigious universities, Tsinghua University (China), specifically Weixian College. Cooperation between the universities dates back to the 1950s, with the arrival of the first Chinese specialists to study in Leningrad. A landmark event was the signing in 1987 of one of the first partnership agreements between universities in the USSR and China—between the Leningrad Polytechnic Institute and Tsinghua University. Close collaboration between research teams and consistent leadership support in the implementation of numerous joint projects played a key role in the development of both universities as leading national centers of education and science.
The delegation's visit began with a tour of the SPbPU History Museum and a visit to the Polytechnic Supercomputer Center. The guests were introduced to the university's advanced computing resources and research infrastructure. The highlight of the day was a meeting with Russian students. The participants presented their universities and shared their national and cultural characteristics. The Chinese students also spoke about the Chinese education system.
Tsinghua representatives provided a detailed explanation of the philosophy of Weixian College, whose name translates as "Be First" and reflects its mission: to develop technological leaders capable of shaping the future at the intersection of various disciplines. They explained that the college is built on interdisciplinary principles: students enroll without choosing a specific major and, during their studies, can choose between areas such as integrated electronics, materials science, biomedical engineering, and instrumentation. This approach allows them to gain a deeper understanding of their scientific interests and make a more informed choice of their future major.
The meeting took the form of a lively dialogue: students inquired about admissions details, the balance between theory and practice, cultural aspects, and the prospects for joint projects.
Guests from Tsinghua University also expressed great interest in participating in summer and winter school programs and internships offered by SPbPU.
Following the visit, Olga Yemelyanova, Head of the Department of International Educational Programs and Academic Mobility, noted: "Our universities adhere to similar educational principles: a combination of fundamental theoretical training with strong practical and project-based activities, and an emphasis on developing socially responsible engineers and leaders. The "learn through research" approach and focus on interdisciplinarity demonstrated by Weixian College resonates directly with the educational initiatives and project laboratories of the Polytechnic University."
The meeting at SPbPU marked another important step in developing academic and youth ties between the two leading technical universities in Russia and China, opening up new opportunities for collaboration in innovative education and scientific research.
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