Recently, the Office of the Leading Group for Education Cooperation between Ministry of Education (MOE) of China and Georg Fischer AG (GF) of Switzerland (hereinafter referred to as the Leading Group) has listed Shenzhen Technology University (SZTU) into the first batch of institutions approved to establish MOE-Swiss GF Intelligent Manufacturing Innovation Base (hereinafter referred to as the Base). 16 undergraduate institutions out of more than 180 candidates in China are selected and SZTU is one of the only two selected undergraduate institutions in Guangdong Province. SZTU was approved to initiate the base construction project in March 2022 and invited to attend the online kick-off meeting of the Base on March 31.

The MOE-Swiss GF Intelligent Manufacturing Innovation Base Kick-off Meeting is held online. [Photo/Sino-German College of Intelligent Manufacturing]

Over 100 representatives attended the meeting online, including Fang Jun, deputy director-general of Department of International Cooperation and Exchanges, MOE; Wang Lujiang, president of China Association for Student Employment; Zhang Fengyou, executive vice president and secretary-general of China Association for Student Employment; Yves Reymond, head of the Economic & Commercial Section of Embassy of Switzerland in China; Zhao Lei, chief of the Europe Division of Department of International Cooperation and Exchanges; Yang Xiaochun, deputy director of China Center for International People-to-People Exchange, MOE; Johnson Chen, head of Market Region China of GF Machining Solutions; Lucas Rondez, vice president of SwissCham Shanghai; and representatives from the selected institutions. The attendees from SZTU included President Ruan Shuangchen as well as some college deans and department heads.

Attendees from SZTU [Photo/Sino-German College of Intelligent Manufacturing]

As an important measure for applied and technical talent training cooperation in intelligent manufacturing industry between MOE and GF, the project will focus on the key technical fields such as numerical control, flexible automated production and industrial software, introduce the advanced talent training model from Switzerland, and gather high-level education institutions in China to co-establish a batch of intelligent manufacturing innovation bases that integrate teaching, training, skill appraisal and technical services, such as building application centers, research institutes, teaching resource development centers, and certification training centers.

Meanwhile, through implementing multiple tasks including faculty training, certification and evaluation, informatization, resource development, international cooperation and exchanges, and subject research, the two sides will build a demonstration base on merit and strive to make it a high-quality international cooperation project between China and Switzerland. In this way, the project aims to accelerate the training of talented personnel urgently needed in intelligent manufacturing industry and build a new model of talent cultivation that is to meet the needs of China’s modern industrial system construction.

Representatives from SZTU attend the symposium on establishing MOE-Swiss GF Intelligent Manufacturing Innovation Base. [Photo/Sino-German College of Intelligent Manufacturing]

Selected into the first batch to launch the project can help SZTU promote the industry-education integration and university-enterprise cooperation, the standardization and training of top-notch talents of applied sciences, as well as the development of its faculty team and internationalization. To obtain the approval, SZTU went through multiple times of discussion and then applied for the project in June 2021. In July, SZTU delegation attended the symposium on establishing the Base and gave a presentation on the plan and preparation SZTU has made for the project as well as the features of SZTU. Recently, the university also had several consultations with the Leading Group before finalizing the project plan that is suitable for SZTU.

A delegation from the Leading Group visits SZTU and meets with representatives from Sino-German College of Intelligent Manufacturing. [Photo/Sino-German College of Intelligent Manufacturing]

In the next 3 to 5 years, for the construction of the Base, SZTU will draw on advanced talent training experience from the leading Swiss enterprises in intelligent manufacturing industry and those of its industrial chains, take full advantage of the technologies and resources offered by GF and other enterprises, and give full play to SZTU’s advantages in the regional industry and talent training. The base construction will be carried out in multiple aspects, including internship and training, faculty team building, curriculum reform, informatization, as well as textbook and teaching resource development. SZTU will strive to establish a national-level “MOE-Swiss GF Intelligent Manufacturing Innovation” demonstration base up to standard and cultivate highly qualified talents of applied sciences that meet the development needs of regional high-end industries.

Drafted by Olivia（赖丽伟）/ International Cooperation & Student Affairs Office

Revised by International Cooperation & Student Affairs Office

Edited by International Cooperation & Student Affairs Office