The international symposium of Universities-partners of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization in Beijing

International Administration informs that since the 13th of December to the 18th of December, 2016 in Beijing the International symposium of Universities-partners of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization prepared by North China Electric Power University and National Research University "MPEI" has taken place. Among the participants of the events there were representatives of 11 Universities from China, Russia, Tajikistan and Mongolia (as observer). MPEI delegation included Vice Rector on international relations Vladimir Zamolodchikov, Vice-Rector on research activity Victor DRAGUNOV and Head of Department of International Relations Alexander Tarasov.

The aim of the symposium was strengthening of cooperation between the Universities-partners of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization in power engineering in frames of the initiative "One belt, one way", strengthening of interaction in the field of scientific research and training of highly-qualified personnel. The main objective was the creation of the Power Engineering Intellectual Center of University of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization.

North China Electric Power University was founded in 1958 and it is the leading electrical power engineering university of the country. The university is located in Beijing and it has a branch in Baoding. Moscow Power Engineering Institute was an example during the creation of the university and a system of engineering education. At the same time electrical power engineering specialties have been taken from the Harbin Institute of Technology. A son of MPEI Honorary Doctor Li Peng graduated from North China Electric Power University. He has subsequently headed the Ministry of communication (transportation) of China. Now 22000 bachelors and specialists, 7000 masters and 3000 Ph.D.-students are trained at the university. Moreover 3000 professors work there at the same time. The university includes 10 institutes and 58 areas of bachelor's and specialist programs. The total area of university makes about one million square meters. In recent years the university has focused the activity on the following scientific areas: generation of new types of energy, extra high voltage, intelligence networks, effective and environmentally friendly generation due to coal combustion, technology of nuclear power engineering and others. The university takes part in creation of national innovative key laboratories.

On the 14th of December there took place a meeting with the management of the university headed by Wang Zenping - Vice Rector on international relations. During the meeting the parties have exchanged their opinions on deepening of cooperation between our universities. In recent years 20 students of North China Electric Power University have graduated from MPEI and they continue training at our University. Today North China Electric Power University has magnificent laboratory base, perfect equipment and it is interested in involvement of MPEI students for training in Master's programs and postgraduate training programs. Joint scientific research is of particular interest to the Chinese party.

On the 15th of December there took place the opening of the USCO International symposium. The speakers of the opening ceremony were Duan Chunming - director of the department of international relations of North China Electric Power University; Vladimir Zamolodchikov - MPEI Vice Rector; Huan Kan - deputy head of the Beijing commission of the municipal corporation; Cáo Shihai - Deputy Secretary general of the National Committee of the People's Republic of China on management of scholarship fund of training abroad; Yu Chongde - Vice-chairman and Chief of the secretariat of the Chinese Council on power engineering; Liang Xuming - Chief of the Center of researches of science and technologies of the International organization on cooperation concerning global power network.

After lunch the International symposium took place in two areas: scientific and educational. MPEI Vice Rector Vladimir Zamolodchikov acted as a moderator of the educational area. Within the first area there was listened the information about work of universities within USCO and there were discussed the issues concerning the coordination of plans of joint education of USCO students. MPEI Vice Rector V. Dragunov participated in the meeting in the scientific area. During the meeting there were discussed the issues concerning the research cooperation of universities within USCO, cooperation in development of researches in the field of power engineering within the enterprise "One belt, one way", common scientific tasks on development of power engineering in SCO countries.

The first day of MPEI delegation was finished by the ceremony of exchange of the updated contracts on cooperation between MPEI and M.S.Osimi Tajik Technical University. MPEI and M.S.Osimi Tajik Technical University actively cooperate within USCO. As a result of the discussion there was decided to activate the training of highly trained specialists from M.S.Osimi Tajik Technical University in MPEI and to improve the professional qualification of the academic staff from M.S.Osimi Tajik Technical University in MPEI. The parties have agreed about to discuss the participation in the conferences and joint publications.

Next day work at the symposium was continued. There were summed up the results of the discussion and there was agreed the decision to create the Power Engineering Intellectual Center of University of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization. The purpose of USCO Power Engineering Intellectual Center is to share the intellectual potential of USCO participating universities for rendering advisory services in cooperation in the field of power engineering between SCO member states for more effective development, use and distribution of energy resources among SCO member states. Tasks of USCO Power Engineering Intellectual Center is expansion of cooperation between participating universities, performing of scientific research and consultations, including the sphere of power engineering infrastructure development and interrelationship between SCO member states. There was created a database of experts from USCO Power Engineering Intellectual Center in the area of the power engineering and there was agreed the concluding protocol.

On the same day there took place a meeting of Victor Dragunov - MPEI Vice-Rector on research activity and Qinliang Tan - Vice Rector on research activity of North China Electric Power University and heads of the main institutes of North China Electric Power University working in the field of power engineering.

The Russian party confirmed its interest in development of closer research cooperation between our universities. The main task is coordination of technology of such cooperation. The Chinese party suggested speeding up work in several areas: joint training of students and Ph.D.-students, holding joint conferences, closer acquaintance of professors from our universities. At the moment North China Electric Power University has the opportunity to invite our masters and Ph.D.-students covering the accommodation, training and payment (depending on training level) to 30000 yuans (about 30 thousand rubles) monthly as a grant. The base for scientific cooperation between our universities could be both joint grants for scientific research of our countries, and numerous scientific grants within development of the priority areas of development in science and the industry of the People's Republic of China. There were presented the proposals of Yongqian Liu, Chairman of Communist Party committee of Institute of renewables (the former chief of the international department); Daogang Lu, director of Institute of atomic engineering of North China Electric Power University; Ai Xin, director of Institute of Electrical Power Engineering; Du Xiaoze, director of Institute of Power Machinery; professor Chen Lei, MPEI alumni and Zu Zhengmao, the deputy chief of department of scientific and technical cooperation.

By results of the discussion there was decided to sign the Memorandum of understanding between North China Electric Power University and MPEI on deepening of research cooperation. The parties have agreed to create a working group on research cooperation headed by Victor Dragunov, MPEI Vice Rector and Tan Qinliang, Vice Rector of North China Electric Power University. There was decided to develop the program of joint training for Masters and Ph.D.-students, to advance the research cooperation by grants for intergovernmental projects, to create joint Research Foundation and the international research laboratory. Besides, experts of North China Electric Power University are invited to MPEI for participation in the events devoted to the 80th Anniversary of Institute of Thermal and Nuclear Power Engineering. North China Electric Power University is willing to organize a visit of its representatives for the presentation of the University programs in MPEI.

There took place a meeting of MPEI delegation and Yang Yongping - President of North China Electric Power University. The president has confirmed his interest in deepening of full cooperation with MPEI.

Also in Beijing there was organized a meeting with MPEI alumni. There was decided to activate work on informing MPEI alumni about achievements and new projects of the dear university.

In general work of the delegation promoted to establish closer contacts with representatives of Universities of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization.​