Liu Bo, Chair of the University Committee at Huazhong University of Science and Technology (HUST), led a delegation to Singapore and Thailand to visit partner universities, government and corporate institutions, as well as embassies abroad from April 16 to 21.

The trip aimed to deepen inter-university partnerships, enhance high-level collaborations in education and technology, and advance the Outstanding Engineers Go Global. Chen Xuedong, Director of the Academic Committee and an Academician from the Chinese Academy of Engineering, participated in the related activities.

Liu held discussions with National University of Singapore (NUS) President Tan Eng Chye, who expressed hope of further deepening collaboration in areas of shared interest between the two universities. Liu emphasized that HUST places great importance on its partnership with NUS, and looks forward to fostering mutually beneficial cooperation. She said she expected to build an international platform for industry-university-research collaboration in areas such as AI and smart cities, as well as develop innovative and flexible models for talent cultivation in fields like public health and medicine. These efforts aim to establish a model of Sino-Singapore cooperation in higher education together.

At Nanyang Technological University in Singapore, Liu talked with the university’s Vice President Lee Pooi See and other representatives. Lee expressed her hope of further advancing talent development and research collaboration in fields of academic strength. Liu emphasized the desire to jointly expand high-level talent cultivation programs, boost the efficiency of research collaboration, and explore ways of setting up an international academic alliance in interdisciplinary fields, such as health communication. The two universities' media and communication-related departments also signed an academic collaboration memorandum on health communication.

Liu held discussions with CEO Ng Lang at the Land Transport Authority (LTA) of Singapore. Ng expressed his hope for both parties to tackle technical challenges together and nurture engineering talent. Liu highlighted HUST's solid foundation in fields such as intelligent construction and big data in engineering, noting the strong alignment between HUST and LTA in advancing the digital and green transportation transformation. She said she expects to build a collaborative platform combining government, industry, academia, and research to achieve mutual benefits in technology innovation, talent cultivation, and the application of results. Both sides signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) on cooperation between HUST and LTA.

During the alumni exchange event in Singapore, Liu, together with Singapore-based alumni, unveiled the plaque for the HUST Singapore Alumni Home. Attendees engaged in conversations, sharing insights on the university's development and the achievements of its alumni.

The group also visited the Embassy of the People's Republic of China in the Republic of Singapore. They exchanged views with Cao Zhongming, the Chinese Ambassador to Singapore, on enhancing Sino-Singapore cultural exchanges and fostering cooperation in education and technology.

At Mahidol University in Thailand (MU), Liu met with its President, Piyamitr Sritara. Liu said MU is a key partner of HUST in Thailand, adding that she hoped to further strengthen academic exchanges in medicine and build research platforms. She also proposed expanding talent cultivation programs in engineering and medical–engineering integration fields, while exploring new models for advanced talent training in engineering.

Sritara expressed his eagerness to enhance collaboration in talent cultivation, AI center development, multi-party seed funding initiatives, and the transnational integration of industry and education. The two universities renewed their inter-institutional partnership agreement and signed an MoU on collaboration in pharmaceutical disciplines, as well as an agreement to establish the Sino-Thai New Drug Development Laboratory.

At the National Institute of Development Administration (NIDA), the group engaged in a strategic inter-university dialogue with NIDA President Tippawan Lorsuwannarat. Liu highlighted NIDA's role as a key training base for senior administrative talent in Thailand, and noted the strong foundation of collaboration with HUST's ASEAN Research Center in areas such as smart cities and the digital economy. She expressed hope of developing executive training programs, establishing a two-way exchange platform, and exploring the cultivation of exceptional engineers in fields like engineering management and digital governance, thus promoting efficient and sustainable development in government administration, corporate development, and civic engagement.

Lorsuwannarat emphasized her expectations for deeper collaboration in academic research, talent development, and social governance, utilizing HUST's strengths in engineering disciplines to establish a smart city center. The two universities signed an MoU for inter-institutional cooperation, and an agreement on senior government officials' training programs.

At King Mongkut's University of Technology Thonburi (KMUTT), the delegation held discussions with its President, Suvit Saetia. Liu expressed her hope of making use of KMUTT's prominent strengths in engineering education to address the needs of local businesses, as well as the overseas goals of Chinese enterprises, cultivating skilled and outstanding engineers, and engineering management professionals.

Saetia conveyed his vision for strengthening talent cultivation and interaction between the universities, while expanding practical cooperation in academic development and scientific research to support Sino-Thai technological innovation and industry-education integration. The two universities signed an MoU for inter-university cooperation.

Liu also met with Song Shangyi, Vice President of Haier Smart Home, and Li Peng, General Manager of Midea (Thailand), during a meeting with leading Chinese enterprises overseas. Liu introduced the university's achievements in cultivating outstanding engineers, integrating industry and education, and fostering collaborative talent development between academia and enterprises. She also reviewed the successful outcomes of partnerships with two leading enterprises, Haier and Midea, and proposed an initiative to build a cross-border platform for industry-education integration. Song and Li shared updates on Haier and Midea's development in Thailand, and outlined the demand for specialized talent, while offering their perspectives on collaborative plans related to Outstanding Engineers Go Global.

The meeting’s attendees agreed that cultivating outstanding overseas engineers should focus on developing multifaceted capabilities and addressing localized needs. Through multi-party collaboration between universities and enterprises and the empowerment of new technologies, they aim to deepen Sino-Thai cooperation in engineering education and drive industrial growth. HUST signed respective MoUs with Haier and Midea to co-establish the China-Thailand National Graduate College for Engineers.

At the Thai Alumni Roundtable, Liu officially announced the establishment of HUST’s Thai Alumni Association, presenting the association flag and alumni cards. She invited alumni to stay engaged with HUST, and encouraged them to offer suggestions and ideas for development and success. Thai alumni representatives shared insights from their experiences of living and working abroad.

Other members of the delegation included the heads of the National Graduate College for Engineers, the School of International Education, the Department of Humanities and Social Sciences, the School of Mechanical Science and Engineering, the School of Optical and Electronic Information, the School of Civil and Hydraulic Engineering, the School of Computer Science and Technology, the School of Integrated Circuit, the School of Pharmacy, the School of Public Health, the School of Management, the School of Public Administration, and the Office of International Affairs.