On November 8, 2024, Pavol Jozef Šafárik University (UPJŠ) in Košice welcomed a distinguished delegation from Central South University (CSU), Changsha, China. Located in Hunan Province CSU is a prominent institution directly under the Ministry of Education of China. Established in April 2000 through the merger of Hunan Medical University (founded in 1914), Changsha Railway University, and Central South University of Technology, CSU has a rich history spanning over a century. The university comprises 31 colleges, enrolling over 58,000 students annually, and is supported by a dedicated academic staff of approximately 14,000 members. CSU is renowned for its strengths in materials science, engineering, medicine, and rail transit, and maintains extensive international collaborations with 280 universities and research institutes worldwide. The visit of CSU management at UPJŠ aimed to explore potential areas of collaboration and strengthen academic ties, particularly in material science, computer science, and life sciences.
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.
The CSU delegation was led by Prof. Yi Hong, Chancellor of CSU, and included the following esteemed representatives:
- 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
- Ms. Wen Ning, Deputy Head of the Partnership Section, Office of International Cooperation and Exchange
The guests were welcomed at the Rectorate of UPJŠ by Prof. Renáta Oriňaková, Vice-Rector for Science and Research, and Assoc. Prof. Roman Soták, Dean of the Faculty of Science. Representing UPJŠ were:
- Prof. Renáta Oriňaková, Vice-Rector for Science and Research
- Assoc. Prof. Roman Soták, 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 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:
- Advanced Materials Science
- Computer Science
- Protein Structure and Biophysics
- Cell Biology, 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.
