The BRICS Universities Collaborative Graduate Education Program MOU Signing Ceremony was successfully held on September 4th, 2017, at the Cross-strait Tsinghua Research Institute of Tsinghua University in Xiamen, China. Leaders and guests from BRICS universities, Xiamen Municipal Government, The Education Center for Master of Engineering Management (MEM) of Tsinghua University, Cross-strait Tsinghua Research Institute, xuetangx.com, among others, have attended the ceremony. Holding the signing ceremony during the BRICS Summit fully reflects the common vision of the five BRICS nations, in promoting mutual development and mutually beneficial collaborations in education, technology and industries. The signing of the MOU is also a concrete action taken in accordance with the BRICS spirit of “openness, inclusiveness, cooperation and win-win”. The MOU signing ceremony was jointly held by the Education Center for Master of Engineering Management of Tsinghua University and Cross-strait Tsinghua Research Institute.

BRICS Universities Collaborative Graduate Education Program MOU Signing Ceremony

Director Chen Yanbin, from the High-level Talent Development Center of Xiamen Municipal Government gave the welcoming remarks. Xiamen city, a free trade zone and serving as a strategic city in the Belt and Road initiative, have great desires in attracting high-level international talents; and the BRICS Universities Collaborative Graduate Education Program will establish a close tie among the five BRICS countries in collaborative talent development and future cooperation in generations to come, stated Mr. Chen.

Remarks by Director Chen Yanbin, from the High-level Talent Development Center of Xiamen Municipal Government

Dr. Guo Liang, Executive Director of Cross-strait Tsinghua Research Institute also gave welcoming remarks. He highly appreciates the program’s international talent training model of utilizing the collaborative efforts of BRICS universities, and the combination of online and offline education. In addition, the institute offers strong supports for the program to hold its immersion class education activities in Xiamen. Furthermore, Dr. Guo hopes the program will make great contributions in talent training and exchange for the development of Xiamen Maritime Silk Road core zone, and other regional and national strategies.

Dr. Guo Liang, Executive Director of Cross-strait Tsinghua Research Institute

Professor Gomes, head of Graduate Program in Informatics of Federal University of Rio de Janeiro, vice-president of International Ergonomics Association (IEA) also gave his remarks. Dr. Gomes mentioned the IEA made preceding efforts in promoting communication and cooperation among ergonomics associations among the five BRICS countries, and have successfully established BRICS+ Broad Region Network at Tsinghua University in December 2016, to engage in exploring opportunities of collaborative high-level talent training programs in relevant fields. The signing of this MOU is not only an expansion and enhancement of preceding efforts, but also the result of common visions and hard work contributed from the departments from the five universities, with the hopes of promoting industries’ structural optimization, improving the economy and enhancing cultural exchange of the countries. Last but not least, Dr. Gomes offered his gratitude to the Government of China, Xiamen Municipal Government and International Ergonomics Association in providing the collaborative platform and supports, and looks forward to more activities to be organized in the future.

Prof. Gomes, Graduate Program in Informatics, Federal University of Rio de Janeiro

The five BRICS universities participating in the signing ceremony are all highly renowned and influential. The MOU signing universities and representatives include Professor Basilio, Director of Polytechnic School, Federal University of Rio de Janeiro; Professor Antonov, Head of International Scientific Cooperation Department, St. Petersburg Polytechnic University; Professor Jana, Center for Urban Science and Engineering, Indian Institute of Technology Bombay; Professor Zhang Wei, Director of Education Center for Master of Engineering Management, Tsinghua University; and Professor Moolla, Head of Internationalization and Strategic Partnerships Office, University of Witwatersrand. National Institute of Industrial Engineering (NITIE, India) and Rhodes University (South Africa) represented other observing universities, along with leaders from Xiamen Municipal Government and Cross-strait Tsinghua Research Institute, and delegates, witnessed the signing of the MOU.

MOU signing by BRICS Universities Representatives

Dr. Zhang, Wei, Associate Dean of Graduate School, and Director of Education Center for Master of Engineering Management of Tsinghua University, gave a brief background introduction on the collaborative program and its significance. The signing of the MOU was proposed by the Industrial Engineering Department and Education Center for Master of Engineering Management of Tsinghua University. There are five BRICS universities in the first round of the collaborative program, with the aim of converging outstanding teachers and students from the universities to jointly train high-level international engineering management talents. Through the spirit of joint consultation and collaboration, the five universities will work towards mutually providing graduate education programs, promote academic visits and exchanges among teachers and students, foster international industrial cooperation and cross-regional innovation related education programs. It is worthy to mention a new program at Tsinghua University, International Master of Engineering Management (iMEM) program will be taught collaboratively by professors and experts from relevant universities and countries, to jointly train international engineering management talents.

Dr. Zhang, Wei, Associate Dean of Graduate School, and Director of Education Center for Master of Engineering Management of Tsinghua University

Xuetangx is currently the supporting platform of graduate level courses for students pursuing professional graduate degrees in engineering and engineering management in China, and will take part in providing courseware for abovementioned BRICS Universities graduate programs. The iMEM program and international graduate programs in the Industrial Engineering Department of Tsinghua University will become the first pilot site for the joint program, to utilize the resources of five countries, and in a blended online and offline training method.

Concurrent with the MOU signing ceremony, Tsinghua University Education Center for Master of Engineering Management organized an eight day immersion class session for 28 international students from iMEM and Industrial Engineering Department in Xiamen. Students had the opportunities to watch and learn from the BRICS Summit, listen to excellent lectures given by professors from BRICS universities, and witnessed the MOU signing ceremony.

International students from Tsinghua University Industrial Engineering Department, BRICS Universities representatives and delegates.

Author: Education Center for Master of Engineering Management, Tsinghua University

Editor：Wu, Lili Photographer：Li, Yan

Translator: Bochao Han

September 5th, 2017