Professor Alfred Pitterle of BOKU University—the University of Natural Resources and Life Sciences, Vienna—and a recipient of the 2008 Chinese Government Friendship Award visited Xi’an University of Technology on September 9.
The delegation also included Lei Fengyun, former Science and Technology Counsellor at the Chinese Embassy in Austria, former Level II Inspector in the Department of International Cooperation of China’s Ministry of Science and Technology, and Chair of the China-Austria Special Committee. XUT Vice President Dong Xiaobing met with the guests in the University’s First Reception Room.
Dong warmly welcomed the delegation and introduced XUT’s history, disciplinary structure, research platforms, and international exchanges and cooperation. He noted that XUT is located in Xi’an, the eastern starting point of the ancient Silk Road, and that the University’s disciplinary strengths in ecological water conservancy closely align with the visitors’ research interests in ecological and environmental protection, green and low-carbon development, and sustainable development. He expressed hope that the visit would open new avenues for cooperation and steadily advance collaborative research and talent exchanges between the two sides.
Pitterle thanked XUT for its warm hospitality. He briefly reviewed his longstanding ties with China and introduced BOKU University, as well as his experience and ideas in desertification control and ecological restoration in arid and semi-arid regions. He expressed his hope that the two universities would deepen interdisciplinary research cooperation and joint talent development and make meaningful contributions to regional ecological conservation.
Following the meeting, the School of Environmental Science and Chemical Engineering held the 49th lecture of its Chunhui Forum at Lecture Hall 103 in Academic Building No. 1 on XUT’s Jinhua Campus. Pitterle delivered a lecture titled “Green Talent Education.”
The lecture focused on innovative approaches to talent development in the context of green and low-carbon growth. Pitterle introduced the concept of green talent education and relevant international practices and examined the connections among green education, international standards and certification, and the Sustainable Development Goals. His presentation offered new ideas for universities seeking to cultivate green talent and promote international cooperation in education. Faculty members and students from the School attended the lecture and participated in the academic exchange.
Yang Yuan, Director of the Office of International Cooperation and Exchange; Jiang Xiaolong, Deputy Director of the Office; Zong Na, Party Secretary of the School of Environmental Science and Chemical Engineering; Zhou Pengpeng, Executive Dean of the School; and other representatives attended the meeting.
