ALUMNI CHAPTER IN BEIJING: GROUP T LEUVEN CAMPUS GIVES THE KICK-OFF

On August 24 2019, the KU Leuven Alumni Chapter Beijing was officially installed in the Chinese capital. The next day there was already a first important event: the 20th anniversary of the Double Degree Programme in Engineering Technology of KU Leuven and Beijing Jiaotong University. Both ceremonies were the crowning glory of a quarter-century collaboration between both universities.

In 2000 the first four Chinese students graduated from the then University College Group T in Leuven. They started their engineering studies at Beijing Jiaotong University (BJTU) and came after one year to Leuven to complete their studies. They were the first to obtain a Double (Flemish- Chinese) Degree in Engineering Technology. Meanwhile, more than 250 students from over a dozen Chinese universities have followed in their footsteps.

From left to right: Prof. Deng Xinghua; Prof. Koen Eneman, Campus Chair; Martine Torfs, Head of the Alumni Office KU Leuven; Prof. Peter Lievens, Vice Rector of KU Leuven; Prof. Guan Zhongliang, Vice President BJTU; Wim Polet, Director International Office Group T Leuven Campus; Prof. Zhu Hengjun; Prof. Liu Shaoqing, Director of the Center of International Education BJTU and Prof. Guo Xuemeng, Secretary General of the BJTU Alumni Association.

During the memorial ceremony, Professor Guan Zhongliang, Vice President of BJTU, emphasized the importance of the double degree programmes for the universities involved. “The past 20 years have flown by, but we are determined to continue this momentum. The new KU Leuven Alumni Chapter Beijing will help to ensure that the informal network of alumni that already exists will help really come to the fore by playing an active role in the further development of the collaboration and the friendship between our universities”.

In his speech, Vice President Guan announced a scoop. BJTU is planning to set up its own European Alumni Association with Belgium as the hub and KU Leuven as the centre.

Professor Peter Lievens, Vice Rector For International Policy of Ku Leuven immediately accepted the proposal and promised the initiative full support. “It is yet another proof that we are on the right track with our Truly International Strategy”, the Vice Rector concluded.

Yves Persoons