Recently, the China Scholarship Council (CSC) has successively announced the approved projects under its 2026 International Talent Development Program. Yanshan University (YSU) has been granted 4 such projects, marking a record high in both the number of approved projects and total funding amounts. These projects will support 81 participants with a total funding amount of RMB15 million. Over the past five years, YSU has secured 15 projects under this Program, ranking first among universities in Hebei Province.
Partner Foreign Institutions
The newly approved projects feature overseas study destinations precisely aligned with the university’s disciplinary strengths, including heavy equipment, advanced manufacturing, aerospace engineering, materials science, and intelligent robotics. The partner institutions are strategically located across countries participating in the Belt and Road Initiative, ensuring close alignment with China’s major national strategic needs. The project application was organized by the Office of International Cooperation with joint efforts of the “Double First-Class” disciplinary clusters, and university leaders led the project team to participate in the on-site defense. Among the 4 approved projects, 3 will be implemented by the School of Mechanical Engineering and 1 by the School of Civil Engineering and Mechanics, further enhancing the University’s interdisciplinary and transregional international talent development system. Notably, the Innovative Talent Development Project on Key Technologies for Digital Twin-Driven Health Management of Heavy Equipment led by Professor Yao Jing establishes an international cooperation platform spanning Asia, Africa, Europe and South America through collaboration with renowned universities in Brazil, Italy, Egypt and Poland. With an annual dispatch quota of 12 participants, it is the project awarded to the University with the largest dispatch scale and the highest level of funding to date. The project aims to cultivate high-level talents specializing in intelligent operation and maintenance of heavy equipment, with technological outcomes directly serving China’s future strategic needs in major equipment development. The International Talent Development Project for Multi-Field Composite Forming and Cross-Scale Modeling led by Professor Huang Huagui establishes deep collaboration with the University of Wollongong in Australia, which ranks among the top 100 in the QS World University Rankings in the engineering field. With an annual dispatch quota of 5 participants, the project focuses on international frontiers such as complex component forming and manufacturing, enabling the University’s advanced manufacturing discipline to precisely connect with world-class research resources and cultivate innovative talents tailored to the demands of high-end manufacturing collaboration. The International Platform Building and Innovative Talent Development Project for the Development of Fastening Connection Technology for Aviation Equipment led by Dr. Liu Xi partners with Omsk State Technical University in Russia to build an international research platform for core aviation equipment technology. With 6 participants dispatched each year, the project will effectively address the shortage of international professionals in aviation connection technology and provide robust talent support for China’s aviation industry cooperation with Belt and Road partner countries. The International Talent Development Project for Disaster-Resilient Construction Engineering submitted by Mr. Zhang Xin is jointly developed with Hebei University of Water Resources and Electric Engineering and features deep international collaboration with the University of Washington (USA) and the University of Lisbon (Portugal). Focusing on the two core areas of “prefabricated ultra-low-energy buildings” and “disaster-resilient engineering”, the initiative aims to build a future-oriented modular construction innovation platform. By fully integrating the strengths of Chinese, American, and Portuguese partners in smart construction, low-carbon building materials, and structural engineering, the collaboration will prioritize breakthroughs in key technologies such as modular architectural design and intelligent connection techniques. Data indicate that every 100,000 square meters of modular buildings deployed can reduce carbon dioxide emissions by 6,000 tons, demonstrating significant value in both technological innovation and green development.
This year, in line with its strategic Year of Disciplinary Internationalization initiative, YSU has vigorously advanced its state-sponsored study-abroad programs. The University successfully recommended 64 faculty members and students for state-funded overseas study opportunities, covering multiple categories such as visiting scholars and joint doctoral programs. The number of approved candidates has increased by 36% compared to last year, with an acceptance rate of 91%, reaching a new high in recent years.
