A MEMORANDUM of Understanding(MOU) was inked in Shenzhen yesterday morning between local and Dutch institutions collaborating on projects to improve the development of the city’s rail transportation, build a smart city as well as to cultivate talents in these fields.
Shenzhen University (SZU), the Preparatory Office of Shenzhen Technology University and Shenzhen Metro Group Co. Ltd. (SZMG) will work with two Dutch institutions, namely the Netherlands Organization for Applied Scientific Research (TNO) and Delft University of Technology (DUT) on several projects involving rail transportation and smart city development in Shenzhen.
Yesterday’s signing ceremony was witnessed by Bertrille Snoeijer, the consul general from the Netherlands Consulate General in Guangzhou.
Based on the MOU signed yesterday, the five parties will work together on an array of projects including education programs, research projects, training and knowledge exchanges as well as building a joint research center that may be named the Sino-Dutch City Rail Transit and Smart City Joint Research Center.
The MOU particularly outlines a vision for industry-university research cooperation.
In terms of education, SZU and DUT will promote and implement joint training programs for master’s and doctoral degree holders (with degrees from both China and the Netherlands), and guidance for post-doctoral programs and visiting scholars for master’s and doctoral degrees in transportation engineering, mechanical engineering, control science and engineering.
The two universities will also discuss the plan for a comprehensive-research-orientated bachelor’s degree, international educational exchanges and cooperation projects, and the co-construction or sharing of practice bases (labs) for scientific innovation.
Moreover, Shenzhen Technology University and the Netherlands’ DUT will explore and investigate the possibility for undergraduate courses in engineering.
Industrial projects will also be mapped out for the five parties to cooperate in areas such as urban transportation, rail transportation, smart cities and scientific research in crossing fields, technological research, innovation, new products and socio-economic services.
The cooperation between the Chinese and Dutch institutions will provide strong support for Shenzhen Technology University, said Li Qingquan, the president of SZU.
The technology university’s preparatory office was established in July last year. The university, to be located in Pingshan, is going to be a full-time, high-level, international university of applied science which covers both undergraduate and postgraduate programs, according to the president.
