Key Points of the 2024 Work Plan of International Cooperation and Exchange Office (NIST)

I. Work Strategy

In 2024, the Office of International Cooperation and Exchange will align with the university’s undergraduate education and teaching work plan, implement it diligently, and select international cooperation projects suitable for its own development. The aim is to broaden international perspectives and enhance the level of international education. By leveraging the national "Belt and Road" international education cooperation platform, we will actively promote international cooperation among universities, faculties, and enterprises from three dimensions: internationalized management, internationalized faculty, and internationalized students. We will carefully select cooperation partners and projects, advance them strategically, and gradually promote the internationalization of teaching and research, thereby enhancing our university's educational influence and competitiveness.

II. Objectives and Measures

(A) Internationalized Management

1. Organize 15 administrative staff (subject to university approval) to study abroad, engage in cooperative research, and broaden their international perspectives. The main areas of study will be Germany’s dual education system and Japan’s craftsmanship spirit, aiming to introduce advanced international management systems and experiences to enhance our university’s management level.

2. Expand inter-university cooperation and exchange projects and develop diverse teaching models. Continue to deepen exchange and cooperation projects with 14 overseas universities, expand the regions and fields of friendly cooperation schools based on discipline construction and international cooperation project needs, and seek to sign 3-5 cooperation projects with overseas universities. This will provide a broader platform for faculty and student study abroad or academic exchange.

3. Actively broaden the channels for hiring foreign experts, introducing 2 high-level foreign talents to support the development of our teaching, research, and talent cultivation. Explore various ways to apply for long-term and short-term foreign expert introduction projects, hire high-level foreign experts through these projects, and introduce 5 faculty members with international backgrounds to advance the internationalization of our management and faculty teams.

(B) Internationalized Students

1. Organize 20 students for paid summer internships in the United States and for participation in summer and winter camps abroad.

2. Starting with students' overseas paid internships and study tours during summer vacations, develop forms of credit recognition and dual degree programs. By the end of 2024, aim to establish a 2+2 or 3+1 cooperative education program with friendly foreign schools (such as the University of Bolton and University of Wales Trinity Saint David). Learn from the successful cooperative education experience of Zhejiang University of Media and Communications with the University of Bolton, introduce high-quality educational resources from the University of Bolton, scientifically formulate joint training programs, refine talent training features, and explore new joint training models. Aim to cultivate a group of high-level practical talents and have over 20 students studying abroad by 2024.

3. Increase the rate of graduates pursuing master’s degrees abroad; facilitate 30 graduates to apply for master’s programs overseas. Introduce mature study abroad agencies from home and abroad, adopt school-enterprise cooperation methods to enrich our university's overseas study policies, provide language training and policy consultation for students, and promote study abroad programs.

4. Prepare education management systems for international students coming to China, gradually establish and improve the management system and working mechanism for international students, broaden and strengthen educational cooperation with countries along the "Belt and Road," and attract outstanding students from these countries to study and conduct academic visits at our university, further enhancing the level of international education.

5. Organize 5-10 students to participate in international conferences and cooperative research, broadening the channels for our students' international exchange.

(C) Internationalized Faculty

1. Continue to select and send 10 outstanding non-PhD teachers abroad to pursue doctoral degrees, further enhancing the internationalization level of our faculty.

2. Increase the intensity of scientific research exchanges, jointly apply for research projects with foreign universities, establish research cooperation platforms, and carry out research collaborations. Leverage the resource advantages of existing foreign expert Dr. Giwa, and utilize his active role in teaching, research, and personnel exchanges to complete one international research collaboration project.

3. Organize 5 teachers to actively participate in international conferences and strive to give keynote speeches, enhancing their international level.

4. Actively seek support from government funds such as the China Scholarship Council, Provincial Department of Education, and local cooperation projects to support subject leaders, academic leaders, outstanding young teachers, and key teachers for overseas study and research, thus enhancing their international level.

International Cooperation and Exchange Office (NIST)

Dec. 11th, 2023