President Lou Yongqi recently led a delegation to Italy and the United Kingdom for exchange visits to Politecnico di Torino, Politecnico di Milano, University of York, and Goldsmiths, University of London. Discussions focused on talent cultivation, research collaboration, student exchange, joint laboratory development, industry-education integration, and cooperative education programs, advancing SUES’ international partnerships. The delegation included Wang Qin, Director of the International Office; Professor Xin Binjie, Dean of School of Textiles and Fashion; and Associate Professors Shang Yidan and Qiu Xihe, representing outstanding young faculty members.
On April 20, the delegation visited Politecnico di Torino and held talks with Rector Stefano Paolo Corgnati, Deputy Rector Elena Maria Baralis, and Vice Rector Silvia Barbero. Both sides introduced their respective universities’ development and exchanged views on high-level joint graduate training, collaboration in engineering and design, and industry–education integrated talent development and potential applications for Sino-foreign cooperative education programs. President Lou introduced SUES' SPINNOVATION concept—a 3-Wing interdisciplinary model integrating Engineering, Design, and Management—which was well received. During the visit, the two universities signed a Memorandum of Understanding. The delegation also toured the research laboratories at the Cittadella Politecnica di Mirafiori and the I3P university innovation incubator to explore their practices in technology transfer and entrepreneurship.
On April 21, the delegation met with Francesco Zurlo, Dean of School of Design at Politecnico di Milano, and Associate Dean Anna Meroni. They discussed dual-degree programs, curriculum alignment, joint training models, and student exchange mechanisms, reaching a preliminary agreement. On the same day, President Lou attended the DBEW International Design Award ceremony at the Italian Design Museum as a jury representative—an event initiated by SUES’ partner, Kookmin University, during Milan Design Week.
On April 22, the delegation met with Giuliano Noci, Vice Rector for China at Politecnico di Milano. President Lou elaborated on SUES’ 3-Wing model and its practical approaches to cultivating innovative talent within real-world industrial scenarios. The two sides discussed collaboration in AI, mechanical engineering, and design innovation. President Lou also held talks with Stefano Boeri, President of Triennale Milano.
On April 23, the delegation visited the University of York, touring the AudioLab and the Institute for Safe Autonomy. They held discussions with Vice-Chancellor and President Charlie Jeffery, Andy Dougill (Dean of the Faculty of Sciences), Steve Smith (Head of School of Physics, Engineering and Technology), Heather Niven (Associate Dean of the Faculty of Arts and Humanities), and Professor of Healthcare Engineering Zhihong Huang regarding collaboration in AI, robotics, and design. During the visit, President Lou and President Jeffery signed an agreement to establish a long-term student exchange mechanism at both undergraduate and postgraduate levels. The two sides also exchanged views on integrated bachelor’s-to-master’s programs, collaborative research, and cooperative education.
On April 24, the delegation visited Goldsmiths, University of London, meeting with Interim Vice-Chancellor David Oswell and faculty members from the Department of Computing and School of Design. The two sides reached a preliminary consensus on summer schools, faculty exchanges, joint workshops, and future course collaboration focusing on digital media, interaction design, and computer science and interdisciplinary innovation.
This visit has further strengthened SUES' ties with top-tier European universities and promoted the SPINNOVATION model internationally. These substantive advancements in high-level partnerships and deeping cooperation will further propel SUES toward its goal of becoming a world-class, application-oriented innovative university with distinctive industrial characteristics.
