From March 23^rd to 30^th, a delegation led by Prof. YANG Renshu, President of USTB, visited Spain and Serbia, engaging in discussions with leaders from the University of Seville, IMDEA Materials, and the University of Belgrade. The delegation also visited the HBIS Group Serbia Iron & Steel and Serbia Zijin Mining Co., Ltd. The trip aimed to enhance educational and research partnerships with Spanish and Serbian institutions while exploring new avenues for international collaboration.

Visits to the University of Seville

In Spain, the delegation met with Dr. Miguel Ángel Castro, Rector of the University of Seville. Prof. YANG provided an overview of the progress of USTB and proposed deeper collaboration in architecture, materials science, and other fields to foster innovation. Dr. Castro highlighted the academic strengths and expressed enthusiasm for multifaceted cooperation, including faculty and student exchanges, joint research, and shared academic resources.

A key outcome of the meeting was the signing of a dual Ph.D. agreement, marking a significant step forward in China-Spain higher education cooperation.

Visit to the IMDEA Materials Institute

At the IMDEA Materials Institute, the delegation spoke with Dr. Jon Molina-Aldareguia, the Associate Director of IMDEA Materials. Prof. YANG emphasized the commitment to strengthening ties with Spain and exploring innovative approaches to materials science research.

Visit to the University of Belgrade

This visit marked USTB's first official delegation to Serbia. The delegation was received by Prof. Mirjana Kijevčanin, Dean of the Faculty of Technology and Metallurgy, University of Belgrade. During the visit, Prof. YANG suggested leveraging the Belt and Road Initiative to establish a new model for international academic collaboration, enriching China-Serbia relations. Discussions also covered discipline development and talent cultivation.

Visit to the HBIS Group Serbia Iron & Steel

Visit to the Serbia Zijin Mining Co., Ltd.

The delegation visited the HBIS Group Serbia Iron & Steel and the Serbia Zijin Mining Co., Ltd., meeting with corporate leaders. Prof. YANG reaffirmed USTB's dedication to university-industry partnerships and advancing "Belt and Road" related research and education initiatives. Both sides explored opportunities in R&D and commercialization of research outcomes.

The visit reinforced USTB's relationships with academic and corporate partners in Spain and Serbia, paving the way for a stronger international cooperation network. Moving forward, USTB will continue to expand global engagement, foster innovative collaborations, and support the Belt and Road Initiative through education.

Draft: GUO Yulin

Revision: CHENG Mingyuan