The “Symposium between Universities in Beijing and Hong Kong Polytechnic University” hosted by the Beijing Municipal Education Commission was held at the Beijing University of Civil Engineering and Architecture on Oct 31.

Wei Xubin, deputy director of the commission, along with PolyU President Jin-Guang Teng, Jia Ronglin, president of the Beijing Institute of Fashion Technology, as well as presidents and department heads of relevant universities in the capital city and PolyU attended the symposium.

Symposium between Universities in Beijing and Hong Kong Polytechnic University is held at the Beijing University of Civil Engineering and Architecture on Oct 31.

In his speech, Wei said that higher education institutions in Beijing and Hong Kong have carried out extensive cooperation in talent training, scientific research, cultural exchanges, and national conditions education. The cooperation between higher education institutions in Beijing and Hong Kong involves mot only the sharing of educational resources, but also the sharing and integration of academic thoughts and innovative concepts. It is hoped that the universities in Beijing will give full play to their respective advantages and explore new models, new fields and new momentum for Beijing-Hong Kong higher education cooperation.

Wei Xubin gives a speech.

Teng, who is also an academician of the Chinese Academy of Sciences, comprehensively introduced the history of PolyU and gave a detailed introduction to the development of the university’s advantageous disciplines. He said that he hoped that with the support of Beijing Municipal Education Commission, PolyU would be able to strengthen exchanges with universities in Beijing through joint training, scientific research cooperation, and teacher-student exchanges.

Jin-Guang Teng looks forward to the prospects of cooperation between Beijing and Hong Kong in higher education.

BIFT President Jia Ronglin thanked the commission for organizing the event and building a platform for further deepening mutual understanding and exploring cooperation with PolyU.

Jia briefly reviewed the friendly exchanges between BIFT and PolyU, and introduced the overall situation of the institute from the aspects of its  characteristics and development, focusing on the many important achievements made by BIFT in actively leveraging its disciplinary and professional advantages to serve society.

BIFT has given full play to its advantages in design, technology, organization, and communication, actively served the national strategy and the needs of the capital, carried out in-depth international cooperation, and achieved fruitful results, said Jia. It is hoped that in the future, its exchanges and interactions with PolyU will be strengthened, the advantages of both sides will be leveraged, and cooperation in multiple fields will be explored and further promoted.

Jia Ronglin introduces the BIFT’s exchanges with PolyU.

Participating guests and experts pose for the camera after the symposium.

The purpose of this event was to enhance exchanges and cooperation between institutions of higher education in Hong Kong and Beijing, promote the coordinated development of education in Beijing and Hong Kong, and lay a solid foundation for in-depth cooperation between universities in the two places in the future.

It is expected that with the joint efforts of both parties, BIFT and PolyU will achieve resource sharing through continuous communication and exchanges, and help Beijing and Hong Kong to develop two-way empowerment for their respective education cause.

Founded in 1937, PolyU is a widely recognized a university with a world-class reputation in engineering and technology disciplines. Among them, civil engineering, architecture and built environment, art and design majors are ranked in the top 20 of the QS World University Rankings by Subject.

In June 2019, BIFT selected teachers and students to visit PolyU’s then Department of Fashion and Textiles (the predecessor of its School of Fashion and Textiles today) to conduct academic exchanges on smart clothing design and manufacturing, and the research and development of future clothing fabrics.

In addition, many BIFT faculty members have studied at PolyU; PolyU has also had sent many experts and scholars to visit BIFT to conduct lectures, teaching and other activities.

In October 2023, Lam Tai-fai, chairman of the Board of Directors of PolyU, and Wing-tak Wong, vice-president of PolyU, led a team to visit BIFT. Both sides agreed to promote all-round cooperation between the two schools in terms of teacher-student exchanges, talent training, scientific research cooperation, joint exhibitions, industry-university collaboration and other aspects.