A delegation from Henan University of Urban Construction (China), a long-standing partner of our university, paid a friendly visit to SPbGASU. During the meeting, the parties discussed solutions to specific issues of cooperation and prospects for its development.

The delegation of Henan University of Urban Construction included Vice President of the University Wang Jing, Director of the Institute of Architectural Research Zhang Jianguo, Dean of the Faculty of Management Ho Songtao, Dean of the Faculty of Architecture and Urban Planning Xing Yan. The SPbGASU side included the First Vice-Rector Svetlana Golovina, Vice-Rector for Educational Activity Sergey Mikhailov, Vice-Rector for Economics and Finance Elizaveta Druzhinina, Dean of the Faculty of Architecture Ekaterina Vozniak, Dean of the Faculty of Economics and Management Galina Tokunova, Dean of the Faculty of Environmental Engineering and Municipal Services Dmitry Ulrikh, Head of the Department of Water Use and Environment Svyatoslav Fedorov, Head of the International Relations Division Shuainat Akhmadulaeva.

Svetlana Golovina emphasized that today, universities and academic institutions in China are beacons of advanced knowledge, scientific discoveries and high-quality education. They not only make a significant contribution to the rapid development of their country, but have also become an integral and important part of the global academic community.

"Our university traditionally pays great attention to the implementation of scientific and educational projects with universities in China. Since 2017, the most dynamically developing relations are with Henan University of Urban Construction. This cooperation includes a wide range of areas, the implementation of joint educational programs, academic exchange of teachers and students, holding joint summer schools, implementing scientific and technical developments, holding scientific and practical conferences, expanding the laboratory base and publishing activities. Over the past year alone, more than 70 of our students have become familiar with the history, culture, and system of professional education of China as part of the academic mobility program. Currently, ten students from Henan University are on an exchange program at our university," noted Svetlana Golovina.

The First Vice-Rector added that since 2020, SPbGASU has been participating in the implementation of an educational program for training bachelors in the water supply and sanitation program, financed by the Chinese side. Up to 20 teachers from seven departments of our university took part in this work each year. And today there is an opportunity and need to discuss further implementation of this project.

Wang Jing shares a similar opinion. The Vice President recalled that the history of cooperation between our countries and universities has a long history. Since the Soviet period, both countries have cooperated in various urban development and architectural projects.

"Today, our cooperation is developing at the management level, the ties between the teaching staff and students are strengthening. This is important. Our universities have many similar educational programs: architecture, urban planning, engineering ecology, water management. We support the policy of openness, develop international cooperation, and the closest partner has become SPbGASU. The current meeting will help strengthen our diverse cooperation, including in the organization of the educational process," said Wang Jing.

Currently, 37 students from Henan University of Urban Construction are studying at SPbGASU, including 22 master's students and 15 postgraduates. As was emphasized by the parties, such successful experience needs to be expanded in different directions. Ekaterina Vozniak gave examples of active cooperation development. Thus, students from both universities took part in the architectural competition "ArchConcept", the Chinese-Russian competition "The Future is Coming!" Also, SPbGASU students completed an internship at Henan University of Urban Construction.

The delegation from China was also interested in the SPbGASU Faculty of Economics and Management, whose activities were introduced by Galina Tokunova.

“We highly aapreciate our partnership and are confident that through joint efforts we will strengthen the ties between our universities,” summed up Svetlana Golovina.

During their stay at SPbGASU, the delegation visited the History Information Center, the Test Center, the Faculty of Architecture, the Department of Heat and Gas Supply and Ventilation, and an exhibition of works by Chinese and Soviet scientists in the field of architectural and construction art (mid-second half of the 20th century) in the Scientific and Technical Library.