A delegation from the Research Institute of Aero-Engine (RIAE) at Beihang University recently visited Italy and France, engaging with several leading European engineering institutions to promote collaboration in joint talent cultivation, scientific research, and expert exchanges.

During the tour, the five-member delegation visited Politecnico di Torino and Politecnico di Milano in Italy, followed by École Centrale de Lyon, École Centrale de Lille, École Centrale de Marseille, and CentraleSupélec in France.

At Politecnico di Torino, the delegation visited key laboratories, including the Structural Strength, Aero-Mechanical Systems, and Modesto Panetti Aerospace laboratories. In meetings with Professor Alessandro Vigliani, Director of the China Center (Engineering) and Coordinator of Academic Board for the Ph.D. Program in Aerospace Engineering, and Professors Salvatore Brischetto and Elisa Capello from the Academic Board for the Ph.D. Program in Aerospace Engineering, preliminary agreements were reached on student exchange and joint doctoral supervision initiatives.

Subsequently, at Politecnico di Milano, discussions with Professor Tiziano Faravelli from the Department of Chemistry, Materials and Chemical Engineering and Professor Mauro Filippini from the Department of Mechanical Engineering centered on developing a detailed framework for a dual master's degree program. Following the talks, the delegation visited laboratories specializing in fluid dynamics, mechanical engineering, space propulsion, and nano-energetic materials. Both parties solidified intentions for joint Ph.D. supervision and expert recruitment, agreeing to finalize formal agreements promptly.

At École Centrale de Lyon, the delegation met with Vice President Christophe Corre, Professor Richard Perkins, and Professor Samuel Quaegebeur. The two sides officially signed the Dual Master's Degree Agreement in Aeropropulsion between Beihang University and École Centrale de Lyon. Building upon a 2024 Memorandum of Understanding, this agreement establishes clear mechanisms for curriculum alignment and credit recognition, providing a solid foundation for systematically cultivating interdisciplinary engineering talent with a global perspective.

In École Centrale de Lille, productive discussions were held with Vice Presidents Philippe Pernod and Mathieu Thomas de la Pintière. Both sides agreed to establish regular academic webinars to share research updates and foster scholarly interaction. They also explored cooperation on student internship programs.

Visits to École Centrale de Marseille and CentraleSupélec further expanded the collaborative landscape. Meetings with Vice President Olivier Boiron at École Centrale de Marseille focused on advancing student internship projects. At CentraleSupélec, discussions with Vice President Didier Clouteau and heads of relevant departments and laboratories (EM2C, ONERA) covered student internships, high-level expert exchanges, and joint research projects. A consensus was reached to promote regular faculty and student exchanges and jointly apply for international research programs.

The visit, supported by Beihang's 2025 "School-level Global Partnership Development Program," aligns with the university's "UPS" international development strategy. It further strengthens the foundation for RIAE's Sino-European joint research and education platforms, contributing to the institute's goal of fostering open, collaborative, and high-impact global partnerships to advance aerospace innovation.

Editor: Lyu Xingyun