Posted on: 2019-02-11
CCE’s student and faculty delegation recently returned from its short-term exchange trip to Singapore. The delegation, which consists of 17 members, embarked on an eight-day trip that lasted from January 19th to 26th, 2019. The trip, as a part of the Double First-Class Initiative, and to broaden students’ academic horizon and collaborative spirit, brought participants to visit the National University of Singapore (NUS) and the Nanyang Technology University (NTU).
Our delegation started their visit to NUS with a tour of the Department of Mechanical Engineering given by our gracious host Professor Kaiyang Zeng. Professor Zeng introduced the NUS 3+1+1 partnership project, answered questions from our students, and offered advice on how to plan future academic development as well as how to apply for post graduate studies overseas. His introduction helped students interested in advancing their research abroad understand more the application process, as well as what NUS has done to accommodate international students. Additionally, even fourth year students who have completed their applications elsewhere benefited from the session, as they gained a better understanding of what it takes to become a successful post-graduate student.
The team also visited the newly built Additive Manufacturing Center, where Professor Ma introduced the principles of 3D printing technology and its advantages over conventional industrial production. Our students were able to see first-hand finished products from the center, including a model of the human heart printed using two materials that varied in mixture to produce a color gradient. For many of our student, this was an eye-opening experience to see such quality 3D-printing product. Students were thrilled to hear from Dr. Ma mentioned that many of the equipment from the center were purchased from China, which showed how Chinese technology is contributing to global research, further spurring students to contribute their own efforts in the future.
Next our students were treated to a lecture on thermodynamics by Professor KOH Yee Kan in which he introduced how by changing from liquid to gaseous states, materials can facilitate energy exchange. Our students sat with their NUS peers, and listened in attention as Professor KOH introduced the theory and deeper applications for thermodynamic exchange, including how the theory is realized in everyday appliances such as refrigerators. Through this process, our students were able to experience the lively classroom interactions of NUS firsthand.
In NTU, our students were warmly welcomed by their faculty delegation led by Professor Yiyang Pei. Dr. Lawrence Tan gave a brief introduction of NTU’s history and current development. As a Chinese Singaporean, Professor Pei introduced, in addition to communication engineering related programs, her experiences learning abroad, and took questions from enthusiastic students.
Professor Zhang Rui also introduced the School of Computer Science and Engineering's ongoing research, and laboratories, which included a guided tour of how current researchers are conducting research.
Professor Pei also guided the delegation to visit four main laboratories. The radio frequency and electronics laboratory, students saw demonstration of circuit board architecture from onsite researchers, and took part in antenna shielding experiments; in the traffic system laboratory, students walked through traffic simulations; in the unmanned driving laboratory, many students for the first time, came to close contact with self-driving vehicles; the embedded systems lab is most familiar to our students, and they were able to see how other laboratories applied single-chip technology in to practical research.
This exchange brought our universities together, and paved a solid foundation for future partnerships. Our team members were able to broaden their academic horizon, and expand their understanding of how to work with different groups of people, as well as how to prepare for the future. The hosts of our trip demonstrated their hospitality and scholarship, which will serve as constant reminders that the road to research is full of friends, spurring our students to newer heights in their professional development for the advancement.
