By Danielle Duan
Head, Emerging Markets International Cooperation / OIPA
A new partnership with China’s Beijing University of Posts and Telecommunications is expected to yield a range of high-end collaborations for AIT in the areas of information and communications engineering, computer science and data science and artificial intelligence.
AIT President Prof. Kazuo Yamamoto signed a memorandum of understanding with BUPT President Prof. Xu Kun on 11 March 2024 during a stop in Beijing as part of his 11-day AIT cooperation mission to the People’s Republic of China.
The agreement followed a visit to AIT in December 2023 by three BUPT scientists who delivered a scientific seminar on campus.
A highlight of the new MOU is the agreed intention to pursue strategic cooperation for new and future transdisciplinary education initiatives on digital innovations and AI-empowered education transformation, officials said.
BUPT is one of the top public universities in China in a number of technological fields, ranking high on global university tables in areas such as information and communication engineering, computer science and technology and electrical and electronic engineering. The university is affiliated with the Ministry of Education, and co-funded by the Ministry of Education and the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology.
At the signing, AIT and BUPT officials elaborated on the similar strengths and missions of the respective institutions, such as innovation for social impact, interpretations of society and technology through interdisciplinary research and education, and investigation and applications of artificial intelligence for beneficial development.
“The digital economy is developing faster than the traditional economy and there are many opportunities for BUPT and AIT to explore together,” President Xu said, calling for each side to develop concrete proposals as the next step in cooperation, such as joint labs, academies and projects.
BUPT officials expressed their university’s goal for increased international exposure and outreach. Pres. Xu outlined his university’s strategy to establish research and innovation facilities in the southern Greater Bay Area (GBA) and Hainan Island, and invited AIT to join such initiatives.
President Yamamoto echoed the invitation, saying BUPT scientists and experts could spend time at AIT and use it as a base in Thailand and Southeast Asia to develop win-win scientific and academic initiatives with international colleagues.
Both institutions are keen to establish collaboration in academic exchanges and joint research. President Yamamoto suggested that experts from both sides could develop a joint niche activity right away to move the partnership forward.
The upcoming visit to AIT by BUPT President Xu Kun in late April 2024 is an opportune occasion to establish the partners’ first collaboration, officials of both parties agreed.
Representatives from BUPT who attended the signing ceremony included: Prof. Su Sen, Vice President; Dr. Chen Yan, Director of the International Office; Dr. Jia Yunpeng, Dean, School of Digital Media and Design Arts; Dr. Wang Yao, Deputy Director of the International Office and Dr. Zheng Chunping, Deputy Dean, School of Humanities.
The AIT delegation led by President Yamamoto also included Mr. Shawn P. Kelly, Executive Director, Office of International and Public Affairs; Dr. Chaklam Silpasuwanchai, Assistant Professor, Computer Science and Information Management; and Ms. Danielle Duan, Head of Emerging Markets International Cooperation.
