On June 19, a delegation of six people led by Mathieu Callewaert, Executive Vice President Human Resources of Airbus Commercial Aircraft Business, Ning Fei, Vice President Human Resources and Workplace at Airbus China, and Philippe Boucherat, Vice President Technology and Engineering at Airbus China, visited Beihang University. Beihang President Wang Yunpeng met with the guests in Ruxin Conference Center, accompanied by Vice President Zhao Weisheng and relevant leaders from Administration Office, International Relations Department, Department of Academic Affairs, Graduate School, Human Resources Department, and Sino-French Engineer School. The signing ceremony was presided over by Zhao Weisheng.
Wang Yunpeng extended a warm welcome to the guests and reviewed the cooperation between Beihang University and Airbus. He said that Beihang and Airbus have a history of cooperation for nearly 20 years, and have carried out all-round cooperation in talent cultivation, joint platforms, industry-academia cooperation, scholarship programs, etc., and have achieved many practical outcomes. In the past year, the two sides had frequent and close exchanges and visits, gaining remarkable results. As a world-renowned aviation industry giant, Airbus has been at the forefront of the industry in aircraft design, manufacturing and aviation engineering technology for many years. Wang expressed the hope that both sides can grasp their respective advantages and characteristics to further expand in-depth cooperation in such areas as joint talent cultivation, providing students with more internship, employment and industry development opportunities and platforms. This year marks the 60th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between China and France. On this special occasion, it is hoped that the two sides can continue to deepen their cooperation in creating a model of industry-academia collaboration so as to make greater contributions to the cultivation of outstanding engineering talents in the aviation field.
Mathieu Callewaert expressed his gratitude for the warm reception of Beihang University. He said that Beihang University is a top university in the field of aerospace, and has achieved fruitful results in the cultivation of engineering talents, cooperation with France, and industry-academia cooperation. There are many outstanding graduates from Beihang University that are active in Airbus companies around the world, making Beihang University one of the important sources of employees for Airbus. The development visions of Airbus and of Beihang University are highly consistent, and the two sides have broad space for cooperation in the future. Airbus has always strongly supported the exchanges and cooperation between Beihang University and France, and established the Airbus Scholarship for a long term. He expressed the hope to deepen cooperation between the two sides by continuously providing scholarships for the university, building a joint talent cultivation center, and expanding channels for exchanges and mutual learning between teachers, students and employees, so as to make greater contributions to cultivating top innovative talents in the world's civil aviation field.
The two sides signed a Memorandum of Understanding on Industry-Academia Cooperation, and unveiled the Beihang-Airbus China University-Industry Cooperation Center for Talent Cultivation in Aviation.
Before the meeting, Mathieu Callewaert visited Sino-French Engineer School and gave a lecture entitled "What can international career experience bring to youth" to more than 140 students, in which he shared how international work could inject impetus to young people’s growth with reference to his personal experience.
Founded in 1970 and headquartered in Toulouse, France, Airbus is a world-renowned aviation industry giant and a Fortune 500 company. Airbus China was founded in 1994 and is a wholly-owned subsidiary of Airbus. In 2005, Beihang University and Airbus signed a cooperation framework agreement to formally establish a partnership. Over the past 20 years, the two sides have carried out extensive cooperation in teacher-student exchanges, scientific research cooperation, internships and employment, etc. The two sides have achieved tangible cooperation results in areas such as industry-academia collaborative talent cultivation and key technology research and development.
Written by: Fan Hang, Wang Liuqing
Photos by: Di Bailu, Zhang Xianhe
Reviewed by: Weng Jingnong
Edited by: Jia Aiping
Translated by: Lu Meili, Lyu Xingyun
