Engineering: Connecting Cosmos & Consciousness - Groep T

Students from the School of
Automation Engineering of
the University of Electronic
Science & Technology – China
were GROUP T’s guests.
International students in the spotlight
Total immersion in studying
at GROUP T
In past years, GROUP T – International University College Leuven has built an extensive network in China.
Agreements have been concluded with more than 30 universities across the country for the exchange of
students, faculty, programs and expertise. One of GROUP T’s more recent partners is the University
of Electronic Science & Technology – China (UESTC) in Chengdu (Central China). In late February 2011,
20 students from the School of Automation Engineering were GROUP T’s guests.
GROUP T - LEUVEN ENGINEERING COLLEGE
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The delegation of UESTC was led by Prof. Ma
Lan, Vice Dean of the School of Automation
Engineering, and Mr. Nie Wenkai, coordinator
of the Office of International Cooperation
and Exchange. “The purpose of our visit is simple”,
Prof. Ma explains. “We literally and figuratively want
to immerse our students in life and studies at GROUP T.
For most of them it is the first time traveling abroad.
So it was evident to opt for a university college that
is very familiar both with China and with hosting and
integrating Chinese students. During our visit we talked
at great length with GROUP T students – both Flemish
and international – as well as with teachers, researchers,
managers and members of the board of directors.
We visited the auditoriums, the laboratories and the
Confucius Institute at GROUP T. We were introduced
to the Industria student movement as well as to the
student council. We also met the noted GROUP T Solar
Team, a group of students building a revolutionary
solar energy racing car to participate in the World Solar
Challenge in Australia in October. Another interesting
team is the CQS-GROUP T Racing Team that turns oldtimers
into environmentally-friendly racing cars. We
were also invited to the STUK arts center in Leuven.
We visited a brewery. And in GROUP T’s student bar we
fraternized with the GROUP T students .”
Internationalization as a lever
UESTC is not exactly a small university. The two
immense campuses are home to no fewer than
15 schools among which five key national laboratories.
Seventeen thousand students from all over China
live and study there. “Since recently, our university has
resolutely been following the international route”,
Nie Wenkai says. “China has a lot of momentum
going, not only nationally but also in the rest of the
world. So we don’t want to miss the train. International
cooperation is a crucial lever for increasing
the quality of education and improving the employability
of graduates. It pushes you to pitch yourself
against the best of the world. GROUP T, as the gateway
to Europe, plays an important role in this. So far,
only one UESTC student has found his way to Leuven.
As of next year, we want that to be different. This
jg. 20, nr. 3, 16 augustus 2011
visit is part of a broader awareness-raising campaign
to warm up our students to studying abroad.”
Welcome to another world
Wang Xinglu is one of the few students who is not
from the School of Automation Engineering. She is a
junior studying English. By her own account, she has
never been to Europe, but has dreamed of doing so
her entire life. “I know that there are many excellent
universities in Europe”, she says. “But there are also
fantastic art cities with impressive monuments, museums
and squares. This visit is a sort of scouting mission
for me: I want to see how people live and study here
so that I’m prepared as best I can be when I go abroad
myself.” In any case, Wang Xinglu is very excited
about Leuven: “Small, snug and pleasant with friendly
people and striking buildings and churches.”
“The study environment
at GROUP T is precisely
the reflection of the
professional context that
you will find yourself in as
an engineer.”
Roxi is studying Testing Technology and Instruments.
She, too, is enthusiastic about going abroad. “Belgium
is completely different from China”, she finds.
“It is really a different world. I particularly like the
architecture, not only in Leuven but also in Brussels
we visited for a day. The people are very helpful. We
were able to see that the Leuven students work hard
and are focused on their studies.”
Engineers and entrepreneurs
Li Zhixun also studies Testing Technology at the
School of Automation Engineering. For him, it is his
first journey abroad. “Something I noticed immediately
is how clean, safe and organized everything is
here”, he says. “And how friendly the people are.
What is also entirely different from China is the
teaching method. Less detached and theoretical,
more contact with the professors and everything very
focused on professional practice. GROUP T engineers
are not only technologists but also entrepreneurs.
For everything they design or make, they examine
whether there is a market for it. That’s great. For that
reason alone, I would love to study at GROUP T.”
Andy has a friend studying in France who encouraged
him to go abroad as well. “My purpose is to
learn as much as possible there and then to share all
that knowledge and experience with my friends in
China.” “Crazy and amazing”, is how he describes his
visit to GROUP T. The busy night life of the students in
Leuven especially fascinates him. And, let’s not forget
the excellent Belgian beer. “A must. If I can, I’ll come
to GROUP T.”
Learn from each other
Huang Ganqin is in his second year of the Optical Engineering
bachelor program and, just like the others, he
is looking to gain as much international experience
as quickly as possible and to bring it back with him to
his home town in Sichuan province. He, too, arrived
at the conclusion that the Chinese and Western cultures
are substantially different. “That’s precisely why
we can learn so much from each other”, he believes.
“That’s why it’s such a great experience for the Chinese
students at GROUP T but also for the Flemish
students who have the opportunity to get to know
a bit of China on their own campus and familiarize
themselves with the way Chinese people think and
function. I have the impression that GROUP T students
don’t always realize what an opportunity that
is.” Huang is quite happy with the Belgian cuisine. He
is even at peace with the Belgian weather. “First day
sun, second day rain, third day snow, then sun again...
If you enjoy variety you will feel right at home.”
Y.P.
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