From March 19 to 24, 2015, CAO Guoyong, Chairman of the University Council was invited to visit Monash University, the University of Wollongong and Curtin University in Australia and signed the agreements on expanding cooperation and exchange with Monash University and the University of Wollongong. The delegation also visited the National University of Singapore and Singapore Management University. This visit has further consolidated and expanded the cooperation between BJTU and the universities in Australia.

On March 20, the delegation visited Curtin University in Australia. CAO Guoyong held talks with Vice Chancellor Prof. Deborah Terry, Deputy Vice Chancellor Prof. Simon Leunig and Deputy Vice Chancellor Prof. Carolyn Dickie. Both sides spoke highly of the joint education programs conducted between the two universities in recent 10 years and exchanged views on the main problems and solutions in the process of the bilateral cooperation. Then, CAO Guoyong introduced the development of BJTU in recent years. He said he would further support the joint education programs and expand cooperation on the basis of mutual complementarity and win-win progress. In addition, both sides agreed to conduct joint research on the related issues under the framework of China-Australia Free Trade Area.



On March 23, 2015, the delegation visited Monash University. CAO Guoyong held talks with Vice Provost Prof. Pauline Nestor and introduced the basic facts of BJTU and the marked contributions the University has made to the development of China’s traffic and transportation. He hoped that both sides would further expand the cooperation field from business to engineering and conduct joint education programs on the graduate level. Prof. Pauline Nestor introduced the basic facts of Monash University and spoke highly of the international students from BJTU. She said she valued the partnership with BJTU and hoped that both sides would further expand cooperation area. After the meeting, CAO Guoyong signed the agreement on further strengthening bilateral cooperation on behalf of Beijing Jiaotong University, looked up some Chinese students and listened closely to the studying-abroad experience and feelings of the students and their comments on the university work. Afterwards, the delegation also held in-depth discussions with principals from the Faculty of Engineering and Faculty of Business and Economics.



On March 24, the delegation visited the University of Wollongong. CAO Guoyong discussed the International Program in Mechatronics Engineering (BJTU-UOW) and future joint education programs with Vice-Chancellor Prof. Paul Wellings. CAO Guoyong signed the agreement on the “3+0.5+1.5” program of computer science students. This program is an innovation of the existing joint education programs, which has positive effects on the bilateral talents cultivation. Afterwards, CAO Guoyong visited the Innovation Campus of the University of Wollongong and some related laboratories. During the visit, the delegation also discussed the future possibilities of cooperation with the Faculty of Business and exchanged views with the Faculty of Engineering and Information Sciences on how to better conduct the International Program in Mechatronics Engineering (BJTU-UOW) as well as the “3+0.5+1.5” program of computer science students.



During the visit in Australia, CAO Guoyong also held talks with ZHAO Jiang, Education Councilor of the Consulate-General of China in Melbourne and WANG Xiaojia, Education Councilor of the Consulate-General of China in Sydney.

On March 19, the delegation visited the National University of Singapore, Singapore Management University and Chinese Embassy in Singapore.

At the National University of Singapore, CAO Guoyong discussed the basic facts, strength discipline, talents cultivation, science and technological innovation as well as the internationalization strategy of BJTU with the leaders of the University. He hoped that both sides would deepen mutual understandings on the basis of this visit, explore win-win cooperation model and establish practical cooperation relations with the National University of Singapore.



At Singapore Management University, CAO Guoyong held in-depth discussions with the leaders from the University on the history, strength discipline, teaching, scientific research and international exchange of both parties. He hoped that both sides would further strengthen ties and promote the all-round cooperation in the fields of economics and management.



At the Chinese Embassy in Singapore, CAO Guoyong pointed out that the University has attached great importance to the promotion of internationalization strategy in recent years. He hoped that the Education Office of the Chinese Embassy in Singapore would support and facilitate the links and cooperation relations between BJTU and the universities in Singapore. Yu Yunfeng, Education Councilor of the Chinese Embassy in Singapore, introduced the higher education in Singapore and the China-Singapore education exchanges in recent years. He said he would fully support the international cooperation and exchange between BJTU and the universities in Singapore.



BJTU’s visit of the five universities was a complete success and has achieved the desired objectives, which consolidated the existing partnership with Monash University, the University of Wollongong and Curtin University in Australia and expanded new models and fields of cooperation. We have reached a couple of consensuses with the National University of Singapore and Singapore Management University, which has laid a good foundation for the further cooperation with the universities in Singapore. Overall, this visit was of great significance on the internationalization strategy layout, the reform of talents cultivation modes as well as the collaborative innovation of science and technology of BJTU.

LI Jianyong, Dean of the School of Mechanical, Electronic and Control Engineering, ZHANG Qiusheng, Dean of the School of Economics and Management, LI Yidong, Vice Dean of the School of Commuter and Information Technology and principal from the Office of International Affairs also visited the five universities.