President You Zheng of Huazhong University of Science and Technology (HUST) led a delegation to the UK and Germany from Sept 14 to 20 to advance collaborative education programs and promote pragmatic scientific and educational cooperation with Europe.

At the University of Birmingham, You Zheng held talks with the university's president, Adam Tickell, and signed an agreement on collaborative education programs. The two universities agreed to integrate their educational resources to jointly cultivate world-class innovative talents.

President Tickell expressed the University of Birmingham's desire to deepen cooperation with HUST in talent development, scientific research, and cultural exchanges. You Zheng also reviewed the University of Birmingham's experimental teaching facilities and chaired a roundtable forum to discuss the next steps for their joint educational endeavors.

During the delegation's visit to Aston University, You Zheng met with its president Colin Grant. You Zheng emphasized the significant complementarities between the two universities, which have already co-established China-UK Joint Laboratory on Advanced Photonic

Technology and achieved remarkable results.

Both sides agreed to strengthen collaboration in interdisciplinary fields, including optoelectronics, digital health, and AI-enabled medical imaging, with a focus on integrating industry and education as well as transforming research discoveries into practical applications.

In Germany, You Zheng visited the Max Planck Institute for Gravitational Physics, where he met with Bruce Allen, Scientific Director of the institute. You Zheng conferred a HUST guest professorship on Professor Gerhard Heinzel from the institute. The discussion centered on collaborations in physics, gravitation, electrical engineering, and the influence of artificial intelligence in teaching and scientific research.

Both parties expressed their intention to co-participate in international large-scale projects, particularly in space gravitational wave detection, while fostering researcher exchange programs and joint talent training. You Zheng also toured the institute's scientific facilities to explore avenues for future cooperations.

At Leibniz University Hannover, You Zheng met with University President Volker Epping and renewed an inter-university cooperation memorandum. You Zheng noted opportunities to expand joint PhD training and student exchange programs, particularly in electrical and electronic sciences. During his visit, he also toured the university's Institute of Drive Systems and Power Electronics and its Laboratory for Nano and Quantum Engineering.

You Zheng conducted a focused investigation into gravitational wave photonics technologies, precision optical coating, and the commercialization of scientific and technological achievements at the Hannover Laser Center and its affiliated high-tech enterprises.

During the visit to Germany, You Zheng also met with HUST Alumni Association of Germany and attended Young Alumni Growth Workshop held in Hannover. Jin Songbao, Deputy Consul General from the Chinese Consulate-General in Hamburg, delivered a speech at the event, which was attended by over 20 alumni based in Germany.

Representatives from various academic and administrative departments, including the Office of Undergraduate Education, the School of Electrical and Electronic Engineering, the Office of the President, and the Office of International Affairs, participated in relevant activities.