The University of Western Macedonia participated in an international forum in China for global academic networking – Expansion of cooperation with the University of Beijing BUCT. Following an invitation by the Beijing University of Chemical Technology, the University of Macedonia participated in the International Forum for Academic and Industrial Cooperation in the framework of the global initiative “One Road – One Belt” in early December in Beijing.
According to the university’s announcement, the creation of a joint English-language undergraduate degree program was discussed, to attract foreign students to the UOWM. At the same time, the two universities plan to submit joint research proposals under the national action “Bilateral and Multilateral S&T Cooperation between Greece and China”, as well as the EU’s Horizon Europe framework program for research and innovation for 2021-2027. It was also agreed to launch the submission of a joint Erasmus+ proposal (ICM) aiming at the reciprocal movement of teachers and students of all study cycles for research activities in BUCT and the University of Western Macedonia. The possibility of creating a Confucius Institute in the city of Kozani was discussed, to become a bridge of cooperation and communication between Greece and China, contributing to the strengthening of cultural ties and the further development of educational, research, and economic cooperation.
As a guest speaker, Mr. Theodoulides, rector of UOWM, presented the strategy of dynamic development and extroversion of Greek universities in the international environment, and in particular the ongoing planning of UOWM for the promotion of new beneficial international collaborations focusing on the University’s competitive advantages in cutting-edge scientific fields and the opportunities created by its transformation into a hub of green innovation and research in the wider Mediterranean and European region. He also referred to the collaborations already implemented by the University with a total of six Chinese universities and institutions. In the framework of the visit to Beijing, Mr. Theodoulides and the Assistant Professor of the Department of Chemical Engineering, Nikolaos Harisiou met with the rectorial authorities of the Beijing University of Chemical Technology BUCT, where it was agreed to extend the five-year cooperation of the two universities with a series of new joint actions.
The collaboration between the University of Western Macedonia and BUCT started in 2018 and has already led to:
The establishment of the Chinese-Greek Joint Research Centre for Bioenergy.
the production of joint research results through the project “Integrated management and exploitation of multi-dispersed agricultural residues – application to energy production, SYNAGRON”, corresponding to more than 25 joint publications in international peer-reviewed journals and 2 patents, with Professor Maria Goula as scientific supervisor.
The 8th International Conference on Biorefinery and Biomanufacturing- ICB2023 in July 2023 in Athens, co-organized by BUCT, the University of Patras, and the University of Western Macedonia.
