​German government delegates visit XJTLU

Delegates from the German Federal Ministry of Education and Research (BMBF) visited Xi’an Jiaotong-Liverpool University to promote their campaign ‘Shaping the Future – Building the City of Tomorrow’, and to discuss possible collaborations with XJTLU.

The BMBF’s current international campaign is focused on the future of smart, sustainable and energy-efficient cities, which is also a key research area at XJTLU with its Institute for Sustainable Materials and Environment and its Research Institute for Future Cities.

“Our campaign promotes 10 research networks from Germany to present their ideas and innovations for urban development abroad and identify cooperation partners,” explained Marcus Jentner (pictured below), an urban planner and designer from Berlin who led the delegation.

He explained that the BMBF is focused on finding partners in five countries with considerable resources in science and technology regarding future cities: China, India, Vietnam, The United States, and Colombia.

“The 10 research networks cover various topics including urban energy efficiency, integrated planning and urban development, photonic and optic technologies, and human-centred design,” said Jentner.

The delegates were received by Vice President for Academic Affairs Professor David Goodman, Dean for International Affairs Professor Stuart Perrin, Head of the Department of Architecture Professor Gisela Löhlein, Head of the Department of Urban Planning and Design Professor Xueming Chen, and Director of Planning and Business Development Ling Wang.

Also present were Yuan Zhou and Zhenzhen Shen from the Suzhou Dushu Lake Science and Education Innovation District Universities Cooperation & Development Bureau.

Zhenzhen Shen (pictured above, right) presented the delegates with detailed information about the Suzhou Industrial Park, where XJTLU is located, highlighting its location in the coastal economic belt and its proximity to Shanghai.

Professor David Goodman (left) introduced XJTLU, highlighting the University’s research strengths in science and technology, in particular artificial intelligence, health technology, and molecular biology.

He also noted that the XJTLU School of Film and Television Arts is the first non-State-run film school in China, and that XJTLU’s Language Centre is the largest of its kind in Asia.

The delegation were given a tour of the North and South campuses and visited the departments of Urban Planning Design and Architecture, where they were received by Dr Bing Chen, Dr Christian Gänshirt, and Dr Claudia Westermann.

story by Danny Abbasi; photos by Zhiwei Zhou