During June 18 to June 25, Vice President Cai Yonglian led a delegation to visit Austria and Switzerland and visited Vienna University of Music and Performing Arts, European Society for Education and Communication (ESEC), FH Campus Wien (South City University of Applied Sciences, Vienna), Austrian Energy Design AG, BFI University of Applied Sciences, Vienna and East Switzerland University of Applied Sciences, etc. and signed relevant agreements. The delegation was accompanied by the heads of Sino-German College, Hujiang College and the International Affairs Office.
The delegation first visited the University of Vienna and had a meeting with Thomas A. Bauer, Professor of the University and President of the European Society for Education and Communication (ESEC). The two sides had a thorough discussion on topics such as joint declaration of international research projects, integration of science and arts, reform of education and communication research, and professional development of teachers. During the meeting, Cai Yonglian and President Thomas A. Bauer signed a cooperation agreement and appointed him as a strategic advisor of USST for Sino-German educational cooperation. The University of Vienna, founded in 1365, is the first and highest university in Austria, also the oldest university in the German-speaking area and the academic center of the Danube region, and has produced 21 Nobel Prize winners. The European Society for Education and Communication is one of the key research institutes affiliated with this university and plays a crucial role in education teaching and research on the safety of online communication.
European Society for Education and Communication (ESEC) Signing Ceremony
The delegation, accompanied by Thomas A. Bauer, then visited the South City University of Applied Sciences in Vienna. Professor Arthur Mettinger, Vice Rector for International Exchange of the University, warmly welcomed the delegation and Elisabeth Brunner-Sobanski, Head of the International Exchange Center, participated in the discussion. The two sides introduced their universities respectively and exchanged views on cooperation in international innovative research projects, international student cultivation, summer school, medical-industrial crossover, etc., and discussed the signing of further cooperation memorandum. At the meeting, Arthur Mettinger was appointed as a strategic advisor for Sino-German educational cooperation. The University of Applied Sciences Vienna-Süd is an Austrian provincial and ministerial university with multiple support from the Austrian state, the Viennese region and the medical industry, and plays a key role in the research and professional talent cultivation of medical care programs in the Vienna region.
Group photo of the leaders of the University of Applied Sciences Vienna South City
The delegation then visited the BFI University of Applied Sciences in Vienna, which is part of the BFI Education Group, one of Europe's leading higher education institutions with campuses in Hamburg, Germany, and other regions. The BFI University of Applied Sciences Vienna is dedicated to the cultivation of elite management and finance professionals, and its graduates are found in major financial institutions in Austria, especially in the Vienna region. Andreas Breinbauer, President of the BFI University of Applied Sciences in Vienna, warmly received the delegation, and the Director of the International Exchange Office participated in the discussion. The leaders of the two universities exchanged views on the recent development of their respective universities, their internationally accredited disciplines and internationalization strategies. The two sides reached a preliminary cooperation intention in the field of business and economic management cooperation.
Visit to BFI University of Applied Sciences
Immediately after the visit, the delegation went to the Austrian Energy Design AG (Neu Bau). Dawid Michulec, General Manager of the company, welcomed the delegation at the company's headquarters and introduced the main projects and directions of the company: the company is well known in Vienna and is responsible for the core projects of energy planning and design for many landmark buildings in Vienna; it has many successful cooperation cases with China, such as the Hangzhou Museum project. Michulec is also a professor at several universities in Vienna. Cai Yonglian introduced the international development strategy of USST and the joint programs in Sino-German College, hoped that Energy Design Co., Ltd. Would support the construction of internship bases for students and other aspects, and invited Dawid Michulec to teach at USST. After the meeting, the two sides signed the framework agreement of school-enterprise cooperation together.
Signing of the agreement
After that, the delegation went to Vienna University of Music and Performing Arts for a visit, where Johannes Meissl, Vice President for Foreign Affairs, hosted the delegation cordially. Vienna University of Music and Performing Arts is the largest public music institution of higher education in Austria, and has been in the top three of the QS University Rankings in the arts category for a long time. The Vienna University of Music and Performing Arts was founded in 1817 with a doctoral program in related disciplines, and has in-depth cooperation with China's Central Conservatory of Music, Shanghai Conservatory of Music and other famous art institutions in China. Johannes Meissl introduced the development history and key disciplines of the university; Cai Yonglian introduced the development of the music department of Hujiang College and the development strategy of science and art integration, as well as the case of science and art integration between USST and Shanghai Theatre Academy. The two sides also exchanged in-depth views on the exchange of teachers and students and the joint declaration of international special projects in arts. At the meeting, Johannes Meissl signed and handed over the Letter of Intent of Cooperation between the two universities to USST delegation.
Visit to Vienna University of Music and Performing Arts
Finally, the delegation visited the University of Applied Sciences of Eastern Switzerland and its branch in Zurich and St. Gallen, Switzerland. The University of Applied Sciences of Eastern Switzerland is the largest university of applied sciences in eastern Switzerland, and at the end of 2021, three universities in eastern Switzerland, including the University of Applied Sciences of St. Gallen, were merged and reorganized; the University of Applied Sciences of St. Gallen, the former partner university of USST, joined the University of Applied Sciences of Eastern Switzerland and became the University of Applied Sciences of Eastern Switzerland St. Gallen Branch. Prof. Sibylle Minder-Hochreutener, Director of Strategy and Development and former Vice-Rector of the University of Applied Sciences of St. Gallen, Karin Pfister, Director of the International Exchange Center, Prof. Sigmar Willi, Director of the International Relations Department and Prof. Sonia Lippe, Director of the Institute of Marketing Strategy, met the delegation. Karin Pfister introduced the recent developments of the University of Applied Sciences of Eastern Switzerland in St. Gallen and expressed the hope to deepen the cooperation with USST in the fields of discipline co-construction, faculty and student exchange, summer school and overseas internship. The two sides then signed the latest cooperation agreement.
Signing an agreement with the University of Applied Sciences of Eastern Switzerland
Presenting gifts to the University of Applied Sciences of Eastern Switzerland
In addition, during the visit to Vienna, the delegation also exchanged views with Lei Fengyun, Counselor of the Science and Technology Department of the Chinese Embassy in Austria, and Ke Xiao of the Science, Education and Culture Department. Cai Yonglian introduced the internationalization achievements of USST and the cooperation with Austrian universities. Counselor Lei expressed his expectation that the university would further strengthen the cooperation and communication with Austrian universities, continue to carry out good academic exchanges between Austria and China, spread Chinese culture and promote mutual understanding and friendship between the two peoples.
Exchange views with representatives of the Embassy in Austria
