"Tianjin University Day" Held Successfully in Austria and Hungary

On February 15^th and 16^th, Yidan Li, Vice Chairman of University Administrative Council, heading a delegation of 31, visited University of Vienna in Austria and E?tv?s Lor nd University in Hungary and participated in Tianjin University Day held on both campuses. The TU Day consists of joint workshop on collaboration and students artistic performances.

Professor Richard Trappl, Dean of Confucius Institute in University of Vienna (UW), and Professor Franz Dickert, Superintendent of Analytic Chemistry, met TU delegation. Professor Trappl welcomed the delegation on behalf of President Winckler and introduced briefly the disciplinary strength and recent development of UW. Mr. Yidan Li briefed the history and the academic strengths of Tianjin University. Prof. Zaisheng Hong, Dean of the Research Institute of Architecture Design and Urban Planning, Prof. Junji Liu, Associate Dean of School of Science, Prof. Zhenghua Li, School of Chemical Engineering and Technology and Associate Professor Xiaojie Liang, School of Management provided an overview of teaching and research of their respective schools. Both sides agreed that the working discussion is fruitful and effective as to promote mutual understanding and institutional collaboration.

In E?tv?s Lor nd University (ELTE), Vice President Ern? Kesze welcomed the delegation on behalf of the faculty of ELTE and pointed out that Tianjin University and E?tv?s Lor nd University, being the first university in the respective countries, shared strong similarity and complementarity in terms of disciplinary layout. He expected more effective cooperation in student and faculty exchange and joint research. After a brief introduction of the university history and strengths, Mr. Yidan Li expressed his hope for comprehensive cooperation in teaching and research between the two univerisities. Representatives from different schools provided an overview of teaching and research of their individual school to ELTE colleagues. Further discussion on research collaboration was held between the two sides.

During the visit, Peiyang Art Troupe gave performance with a strong flavor of Chinese New Year in Vienna and Budapest, respectively. Mme. Jian Gao, Ambassador of the PRC to the Republic of Hungary and Ms. Jinqiu Guo, Counselor, the Embassy of the PRC to the Republic of Austria enjoyed the performance. The series of Tianjin University Day in Central Europe with the overseas Confucius Institutes as a platform have contributed to more dynamic academic exchange and to the built-up of the international reputation of the university.

The University of Vienna (UW) was founded in 1365 and is the oldest university in the German-speaking world and one of the largest in Central Europe. At present, about 88,000 students are enrolled in 180 courses at the University of Vienna. The University of Vienna is also the largest teaching and research institution in Austria with 8,900 employees, 6,700 of whom are scientists and academics. Currently, the University of Vienna comprises 15 faculties and 3 centres. Till now, the University produced 9 Noble Laureates, among which stands out Sigmund Freud, the father of psychoanalysis and an influential thinker.

Founded in 1635, E?tv?s Lor nd University is the longest continuously serving university of Hungary. Currently, the university has Science, Humanities, Social Sciences and all together eight faculties. Over the last hundred years, E?tv?s Lor nd University (ELTE) has had many world famous scientists and five Nobel Prize laureates among its teachers and alumni. The current number of students enrolled yearly has reached 32 000, and there is an academic staff of 1800 highly-qualified teachers and researchers.