Translation. Region: Russian Federation –
Source: Peter the Great St. Petersburg Polytechnic University –
An important disclaimer is at the bottom of this article.
Peter the Great St. Petersburg Polytechnic University welcomed a representative delegation from China. A group of leaders from Central China Normal University (CCNU), led by Professor Xia Lixin, Chairman of the University Council and Secretary of the Party Committee, paid an official visit to the university. This visit was a significant event aimed at translating the existing partnership, enshrined in a 2023 agreement, into practical joint projects.
The meeting began with a welcome from Dmitry Arsenyev, SPbPU Vice-Rector for International Affairs, who emphasized the exceptional importance of Chinese cooperation for the Polytechnic University.
The People's Republic of China is our number one strategic partner. We have the largest number of partner universities and students from China, with over 2,200 currently enrolled. We are very interested in expanding our contacts with your university, as you have, among other things, a strong pedagogical and humanities program, which we also have, but which is much more developed at your university," noted Dmitry Arsenyev.
The key topic of the talks was the discussion of specific cooperation mechanisms. During the discussion, the parties agreed that the modern approach to AI is not about creating an "artificial brain," but rather about developing "intelligent assistants" that can accelerate the acquisition and transfer of knowledge. Professor Xia Lixin added that it is critically important to guide the development and application of artificial intelligence in a "good, correct direction."
The topic of digitalization of education generated particular enthusiasm among both sides. SPbPU presented its flagship platform, "Open Polytechnic," Russia's largest open education portal. Their Chinese colleagues, in turn, shared 20 years of experience in this area and their own proprietary system, "XiaoYa." Both universities expressed their intention to exchange courses and create joint educational content.
Traditional forms of academic interaction were also addressed. The parties discussed the possibility of organizing joint educational programs, as well as the participation of Chinese students in international summer and winter polytechnic schools. The SPbPU Vice-Rector noted that the university has a unique asset for Russia—an official representative office in Shanghai, opened in 2016, which could become an important hub for supporting joint initiatives.
Professor Xia Lixin, representing his university, detailed the large-scale transformation TUCC is undergoing. As a Double First Class university (a program designed to create world-class universities and academic disciplines), the university is constructing a new campus covering approximately 247 hectares, which will focus on developing applied and interdisciplinary fields.
The Chinese government has allocated significant resources for this new campus. This isn't just about expanding space, but about promoting new multi-professional areas. Our key development areas are teacher education, artificial intelligence, ecology, internationalization, and future technologies," he noted.
Following the meeting, it was decided to select one or more "pilot" areas, such as digital platforms or environmental engineering, and create working groups to quickly launch real programs and projects.
After completing the official part of the event, the delegation embarked on a campus tour, visiting the Higher School of Cyber-Physical Systems Management and the SPbPU Open Education Center to appreciate the infrastructure and innovative developments of one of Russia's leading technical universities. This visit undoubtedly gave new impetus to the strategic partnership between the two universities, opening up new horizons of opportunity for students and researchers from Russia and China.
Please note: This information is raw content obtained directly from the source. It represents an accurate account of the source's assertions and does not necessarily reflect the position of MIL-OSI or its clients.