Professor Nataliia Hots, Doctor of Technical Sciences, Head of the Center for International Education of Lviv Polytechnic, gave an interview about a recent visit to our university by a representative delegation from China – researchers from the Quanzhou Institute of Information Engineering. During the meeting with Chinese partners, Rector of Lviv Polytechnic University Professor Yurii Bobalo emphasized that cooperation with the renowned research and business centers of Europe and the world became the priority task for our education institution. Cooperation agreements have already been concluded with more than 120 foreign universities, scientific and business institutions of 24 countries.
– Ms. Hots, we are well acquainted with the global initiative of the Chinese government on trade, economic, cultural, scientific, technological and technical cooperation, which was called One Belt One Road. How will this initiative affect Ukraine and Lviv Polytechnic in particular?
– The main objective of this global project is to create an extensive trade and transport infrastructure that would join Asia, Europe and Africa. It is about the retrieval of a trade routes network, which in the national discourse is called Silk Road.
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This is the most large-scale transport and logistics program of the 21st century, which China started. And it is of great significance to Ukraine, which joined this program two years ago. After all, according to experts from the Ukrainian Institute for the Future, as a result, we can receive huge infrastructure investments – from $ 20 to $ 100 billion. For example, it is quite possible the Chinese companies will participate in the construction of concrete highways in the south of Ukraine, two or three САRGO terminals, the Eurorail from the Black Sea to Poland, etc.
Of course, we, in Lviv Polytechnic, should not stand aside this trend, which will allow us, I hope, to establish close and mutually beneficial cooperation in the scientific and educational sphere with Chinese universities and business institutions and to receive the necessary investments. It is gratifying that our partners understand this too. In addition to the already mentioned agreement with the Quanzhou Institute of Information Engineering, we have similar agreements with Harbin Institute of Technology, Chengdu University, Beijing Information Technology College and Hubei University of Technology.
– Tell us, please, about the specific forms of cooperation provided for in these agreements.
– Our partners from Tianxia show particular interest in establishing cooperation primarily in the educational sphere, in particular, the training of Chinese students in Lviv Polytechnic in the field of telecommunications, radio electronics, computer and electronic engineering, etc. Together we will implement the exchange programs for teaching staff and students, participate in international scientific conferences and competitions, as well as organize the internship programs for teachers and design students of Lviv Polytechnic in Chinese firms.
It is also planned to conduct joint research projects, organize joint conferences and seminars, exchange information and materials, jointly fund exchange programs within research projects, etc. Our scientists have already begun writing joint articles, preparing joint educational programs for graduate students, and taking the first steps towards participating in integrated scientific projects. By the way, it is being negotiated to establish the Chinese language courses in Lviv Polytechnic.