Last summer, Dr. Heidar Malki, Chair, of the College of Technology Engineering Technology Department, was invited to visit Hefei University of Technology (HFUT) in China to explore opportunities for collaboration in research and education. During his visit, Dr. Malki met with senior administrators of the University including Professor Jianghong Han, Vice President for Research, and Professor Jieqin Tan, Dean, College of International Collaboration. His itinerary also included research lab tours and visits to the College of Electrical and Automation and the College of Computer and Information Science, where he made presentations about UH, the College of Technology, and the Engineering Technology Department.
Dr. Xiaobing Xu, Associate Professor and senior visiting scholar, began a one-year visit here in fall 2011. His visit was followed by Mr. Zituo Qian, Ph.D. candidate from HFUT, visiting scholar, who began a one-year visit this semester.
Dr. Xiaojing Yuan, Assistant Professor of Engineering Technology and Director of the Intelligent Sensor Grid and Informatics (ISGRIN) research lab is overseeing the research and education initiative. "Collaboration between the College of Technology's Engineering Technology Department and HFUT will allow UH to have a presence in Middle East China and will greatly facilitate our attracting well-qualified graduate students for the graduate programs in ET, said Dr. Yuan. "It could provide a platform for offering training, undergraduate studies, and certificate programs through technological means as well," she said.
HFUT is a non-profit public higher education institution under the Department of Education of China and offers degree programs from the baccalaureate through the doctorate. It is a top ranking science and technology university that is engaged with the Project 211, the Chinese government's new endeavor aimed at strengthening about 100 institutions of higher education and key disciplinary areas as a national priority for the 21st century. It is eligible for public grants from the various government entities of China, international organizations, and China's private sector. The HFUT curriculum is offered in Chinese, with one or two senior level elective offered in English.