2023 was the first year to thoroughly implement the spirit of the 20th National Congress of the Communist Party of China. In order to earnestly implement the Opinions of the Eight Departments Including the Ministry of Education on Accelerating and Expanding the Opening Up of Education in the New Era, and deeply implement the educational action under the BRI framework, the university party committee attaches great importance to internationalization work and is committed to promoting high-quality opening up of education. Secretary Li Yanrong proposed at the 2023 World University Presidents Forum that talent cultivation is the fundamental task of universities. In addition to their hands-on ability, practical ability, and problem-solving ability, most importantly, universities should help students build and broaden their international perspective as soon as possible. President Song Baowei elaborated on his ideas to implement the "127 Goal" in the theme party class of "Focusing on Education, Science and Technology, and Talents to Move Faster to Build Our University into a World-class University". Among them, "Sending out, bring in, and going global, further increasing international cooperation in talent cultivation" is a key measure.
As an international general discipline, the School of Computer Science (SCS) has always attached great importance to internationalization and foreign affairs work. On the basis of excellent results achieved in the fifth round of subject evaluation, SCS has unveiled the "2035 Global Strategy" in due time. It is committed to building a world-class computer discipline, continuously optimizing the overall strategy for international cooperation and foreign exchanges, and integrating internationalization concepts and elements into the entire education and teaching process. To implement the "2035 Global Strategy", SCS has established an overall internationalization work concept of "goal orientation, problem solving, pioneering and innovative measures", as well as the "four major projects underpinning internationalization" - the "TOP50 Global Network Expansion Project", the "International Cooperation Platform Foundation Project", the "Study at World-Leading CSC of NPU" project, and the "Deep Connect Global Perspective Shaping" project. Guided by these goals and measures, SCS has achieved remarkable results in internationalization and foreign affairs work in 2023.
I. Ensuring steady progress with top-level leadership, and actively participating in the construction of the Kazakhstan branch campus
On the morning of May 18, 2023, Northwestern Polytechnical University (NPU) and Al-Farabi Kazakh National University signed a cooperation agreement in Xi'an to jointly build NPU Kazakhstan Branch Campus. To accelerate the implementation of the results of the China-Central Asia Summit, SCS specially set up a working group for the construction of the Kazakhstan branch campus, making it a top priority for the entire school. The dean and Party Secretary took the lead in exchange activities, with national level talents serving as teaching staff. The leaders of the school took the lead in offering courses to jointly support the construction of the computer major in the Kazakhstan branch campus, championing the high-quality construction of the branch campus.
II. Strategic guidance, in-depth empowerment, and building the "the Belt and Road" e-commerce talent training base
On September 7, 2023, Chen Jianyou, Deputy Secretary of the Party Committee of NPU, led a delegation to attend the China (Shaanxi) Kazakhstan Education Exhibition (Almaty Station) hosted by the Shaanxi Provincial Department of Education. Under the joint witness by Liu Jianlin, Secretary of the Education Working Committee of the Shaanxi Provincial Party Committee, and Zhang Wei, Consul General of the Consulate General, Northwestern Polytechnical University and "Ali Farabi" Kazakh National University signed the "the Belt and Road" E-commerce Talent Training Base Cooperation Agreement. The "Belt and Road" e-commerce talent training base is mainly undertaken by the SCS, whose advantageous disciplines are Computer science and technology, e-commerce. The base is designed to provide high-quality talent support for cross-border enterprise cooperation from BRI partner countries. It will also work with leading enterprises such as JD and EduCoder to build the "Silk Road Cloud Classroom" - an open smart education and training platform for overseas e-commerce under the BRI, provide intellectual support for the joint construction of the "the BRI, and work together to build a closer China-Central Asia community with a shared future.
III. Opportunity sharing, collaborative integration, and launching the "the Belt and Road" Intelligent Internet of Things (IoT) International Cooperation Alliance
The SCS has a strong research foundation in intelligent IoT, especially in areas such as intelligent perception and ubiquitous computing, Mobile Crowd Sensing and Computing (MCSC), and human-machine-IoT integration intelligent systems, which have seen many internationally influential achievements. To further promote the integrated development and collaborative innovation of industries, universities and research institutes in the field of international intelligent network, NPU has initiated and established the "the Belt and Road Intelligent IoT International Cooperation Alliance".
The Alliance aims to bring together outstanding universities, scientific research institutions and scholars from China and other countries to target the forefront of the intelligent computing disciplines of All Things Smart Connect and human-machine-IoT integration, give play to the complementary advantages of BRI partner countries in the relevant fields, including their teaching staff, talent training, scientific research, industrial development, organize all forms of exchanges and cooperation, and facilitate multilateral cooperation among the members of the Alliance. Currently, experts and scholars from 22 internationally renowned universities, including the National University of Singapore, the University of Melbourne, Australia, the University of Milan, Italy, the City University of Hong Kong, and Aberystwyth University, the UK, have joined the alliance.
IV. Leveraging conferences to gather joint efforts and taking the lead in launching the AIoTSys International Academic Conference
In 2023, relying on the BRAVE alliance, the SCS initiated and organized the 2023 International Conference on Artistic Intelligence of Things and Systems (AloTSys) around the world, during which nine IEEE/ACM Fellows presented their reports, and more than 300 scholars from both China and foreign countries attended the event. The conference brings together experts, scholars, and relevant practitioners in the field of intelligent IoT from around the world to share research results, exchange new experiences and technologies, promote education and teaching, talent cultivation, and the scientific research development of young scholars.
V. Study at world-leading CSC of NPU, ranking 1st for three consecutive years in the University in terms of the enrollment number of international students
To encourage all staff to participate in international education and comprehensively promote the enrollment of international students, starting from 2021, the SCS has introduced new policies to enhance the effectiveness of awards and assistance, encourage SCS teachers to recruit international students, and promote a high degree of ideological unity among all teachers. With the joint efforts of all teachers, the enrollment of foreign students in the SCS has achieved rapid development, and the scale of international students has reached a new high. The number of international students enrolled has ranked first in the university for three consecutive years.
In the cultivation of international students, the SCS has always adhered to the principle of "raising awareness, improving strategies, and enhancing management", attached great importance to enrolling and cultivating foreign students, and regarded international student education as an important measure of its international level. Keep building the brand with high quality, and achieve sustainable development of international student education. In the assignment book for the employment period of B-track young teachers, it is clearly required that each teacher shall develop or instruct a full English course, so as to improve the quality of courses for international students. Ensure the teaching quality of international courses.
To optimize the external windows, the SCS has specially produced international computer student enrollment promotion videos and international cooperation brochures, innovating international education promotion methods; launched a series of reports on the 10th anniversary of the "the Belt and Road" initiative - ten years, ten people, ten stories about the Silk Road, to set an example for international education.
VI. Global perspective, capability enhancement, leading the establishment of the Global IT Competency Development Center
In April 2023, the CSC took the lead in establishing the Global IT Competency Development Center, aiming to continuously enhance the global perspective and international leadership of information students, and cultivate international talents who are determined to master solid professional basic knowledge, develop all-round skills, participate in cross-cultural communication with an open and inclusive attitude, and utilize their professional knowledge to participate in global governance and solve global development problems. Through the model of "course+practice", by offering general education courses on cross-cultural and global issues, giving a series of special lectures, and setting up international organization internship programs during winter and summer vacations, the SCS aims to comprehensively build students' global awareness, enhance their professional competence, and improve their communication and collaboration abilities.
The SCS strongly supports and encourages students to take internship and practice in international organizations, improving their ability to participate in global governance. In 2023, a total of 13 students conducted internships and practical training at the International Telecommunication Union, the UNU Macau and other international organizations, receiving high praise from the internship and training department.
VII. Diversified cooperation, expanded channels, and deepening international cooperation in education
The SCS endeavors to foster international partners and establish a stable interactive cooperation mechanism by selecting world-renowned universities that share similar educational concepts. It continuously explores ways to collaborate with prestigious world universities and build first-class international partners, and also creates a deep interactive global cooperation network to help enhance the international influence of the SCS.
The SCS has established long-term and stable multi-type cooperative relationships with the National University of Singapore, the University of Bristol, the University of St Andrews, and the Aberystwyth University, working together to create new platforms for student development and new choices for graduates. It also launches high-quality short-term cooperation and exchange programs such as University College London and Imperial College London, encouraging students to study abroad. In 2023, 90 undergraduate students visited University College London, Imperial College London, and the UNU Macau, and 72 graduate students attended international conferences, ranking among the top in terms of overall scale on campus.
VIII. Cultural integration, co-existence with difference, creating a strong international atmosphere
To create cross-cultural exchange ethos and an international atmosphere in the SCS, and attract outstanding students from both domestic and international sources as well as the University, in 2023, the SCS continued to provide students with non-stop English communication activities. Relying on its high-quality faculty and forward-looking policies, we at the SCS were working to build the @ world brand event, the "Smart Silk Road, Code-Inspired Chang'an" International IT Culture Festival, the Future AI Master International Summer Camp, the Global IT Competency Training Camp, and found the Global IT Learning Society International Club. It also carried out a variety of themed activities in the form of special events, cultural salons, frontier forums, international clubs, etc., to create an international atmosphere for the SCS.
Many brands provided students with great opportunities to understand the broad prospects and research directions in the field of computer science, and built interactive channels between teachers and students. They also helped students better grasp their learning priorities, find suitable directions for their development earlier, improve their specialized knowledge level, stimulate their enthusiasm for cross-cultural communication, and cultivate their global perspective.
In 2023, the SCS advanced its international cooperation and exchange work in all aspects and achieved remarkable results. At the 2023 International and Foreign Affairs Work Summary Conference on January 19, the SCSl was commended and awarded multiple honors:
1. "Advanced Collective" for International Cooperation and Exchange in 2023 (a total of 8 in the university)
2. Outstanding Contribution Award for "Kazakhstan Campus Construction" (a total of 4 in the university)
3. Excellent Organizer for "Soaring across the World" in 2023 (a total of 11 in the university)
4. Excellent School of "Study at NPU" in 2023 (a total of 10 in the university)
A world-class computer science discipline is one of the important symbols of a world-class university." Looking forward to the future, we would take on new responsibilities and commitments with a more uplifting and enterprising attitude, unite and work together, comprehensively promote the internationalization and foreign affairs work of the SCS, build a new pattern of international cooperation and exchange in all aspects and at multiple levels, spread Chinese wisdom, and create new brilliance of NPU.
(Reviewed by Guo Bin)
