On November 8, 2024, Pavol Jozef Šafárik University (UPJŠ) in Košice welcomed a delegation from Central South University (CSU), Changsha, China. The CSU delegation was led by Prof. Yi Hong, Chancellor of CSU. The guests were welcomed at the Rectorate of UPJŠ by prof. RNDr. Renáta Oriňaková, DrSc., Vice-Rector for Science, Research and Projects.
Representing Faculty of science UPJŠ were: Assoc. Prof. RNDr. Roman Soták, PhD., Dean of the Faculty of Science; Prof. Gabriel Semanišin, Vice-Dean of the Faculty of Science for Development; Assoc. Prof. Michal Gallay, Vice-Dean of the Faculty of Science for External Affairs; Assoc. Prof. Adriana Zeleňáková, Head of the Department of Condensed Matter Physics; Assoc. Prof. Jozef Bednarčík, Department of Condensed Matter Physics.
The CSU delegation included the following representatives: Prof. Yi Hong, Chancellor of CSU; Prof. Yan Hongjie, Director of the University Office; Prof. Yin Gang, Director of the Office of International Cooperation and Exchange; Prof. Zhang Dou, Dean of the Powder Metallurgy Research Institute; Prof. Jiang Hong, President of the Third Xiangya Hospital of Central South University; Ms. Wen Ning, Deputy Head of the Partnership Section, Office of International Cooperation and Exchange.
The meeting began with introductions, followed by brief presentations from both universities. UPJŠ highlighted its strengths in research and academic programs in Natural Sciences, Mathematics, and Information Sciences. The CSU delegation introduced their institution with a focus on its achievements in metallurgy, material science, and life sciences, emphasizing its standing as a top-tier university in China.
Chancellor Prof. Yi Hong underscored the main objective of the visit – to establish short-term exchange programs especially for PhD students and psot-docs, but also other memebrs of academic staff (1-6 months), with CSU providing funding support. The discussion identified key overlapping research areas, including: Battery Research, Advanced Materials Science, Computer Science, Protein Structure, Biophysics, Cell Biology and Molecular Biology.
Both parties expressed enthusiasm for initiating exchange programs and developing joint research projects, paving the way for a long-term partnership between UPJŠ and CSU. The meeting was a productive step toward enhancing international collaboration, aligning with the strategic vision of both universities to expand global academic partnerships.
