From December 7 to 13, the School of Civil and Hydroelectric Engineering at Huazhong University of Science and Technology (HUST) co-hosted the “International Construction Study Tour in China” with the School of Built Environment at the University of New South Wales (UNSW). At the opening ceremony on December 9, Liu Huabei, Dean of the School of Civil and Hydraulic Engineering, warmly welcomed the UNSW delegation and introduced the school’s development. Jiang Jing, Deputy Director of the Office of International Affairs, and Yan Wei, Director of the Admissions and International Cooperation Office at the School of International Education, also addressed the ceremony and extended a warm welcome.

Dr. Cynthia Wang presents a souvenir to Dean Liu Huabei

The opening ceremony

Various exchange activities were held during the event. Professors from the Department of Digital Construction and Engineering Management delivered lectures to visiting students, discussing cutting-edge research progress and achievements in construction engineering management.

The UNSW delegation expressed great admiration for the research during their visit to the National Center of Technology Innovation for Digital Construction. They also toured the construction site of the Hanxin Mansion project featuring the “Building Machine,” the intelligent production line of the Zhongjian Hannan Prefabricated Component Factory, and participated in discussions at the Central South Architectural Design Institute to gain practical understandings of China’s engineering construction and management status. Additionally, they visited the History Museum and the School of Architecture and Urban Planning of HUST.

Visiting National Center of Technology Innovation for Digital Construction

Visiting Intelligent Prefabricated Component Production Line

The event also provided a platform for cultural exchange between students from both universities. The UNSW students participated in a “Language and Culture Workshop” with the HUST English Media Student Association (EMSA), discussing the definition of “success” across different cultures. In a course on Chinese architectural culture conducted by HUST’s School of International Education, Chinese and Australian students collaborated to create architectural models. The UNSW faculty and students also played a friendly basketball match against a HUST team.

The Language and Culture Workshop

Experiencing the traditional Chinese architectural culture 

Professor Sun Jun presented certificates and souvenirs to the UNSW students at the closing ceremony.

The UNSW delegation, led by Dr. Cynthia Wang, included 17 undergraduate students. This program has deepened the friendship between the faculties and students at both universities and has been successfully held for five sessions since 2014, standing as a testament to the fruitful cooperation between the two universities.

Written by: Zhan Xinrui

Edited by: Zhang Shiyu, Chang Wen, Peng Yumeng