On July 5, the 2026 HUST Global Summer School officially commenced. HUST President Professor Zheng YOU, the Academician of the Chinese Academy of Engineering(CAE), and Vice President Professor Yonghui ZHANG attended the opening ceremony.
In the address, Vice President Professor Yonghui ZHANG extended a warm welcome to young scholars from around the world. He offered a brief overview of the university's development and traced the Global Summer School's growth over the past three years—from fledgling to flagship in HUST's international outreach. This year's edition brings together more than 2,400 students and scholars from both China and abroad, creating broader avenues for cross-cultural exchange and academic collaboration.
Speaking on behalf of the faculty, Dr. Georgios Karalis, Lecturer at Greece's National Technical University of Athens and EU faculty member at HUST's China-EU Institute for Clean and Renewable Energy(ICARE), reflected on his 15-year collaboration with the university. He noted that 2026 marks the 20th anniversary of the China-Greece Strategic Partnership, and that the Global Summer School provides an invaluable opportunity for young people from both nations to engage in mutual learning through a blend of cultural immersion and cutting-edge academic exploration.
Professor Rong CHEN, Dean of the School of International Education at HUST, encouraged all participants to carry their experiences and insights back to their home countries, and warmly invited them to return to HUST in the future to continue this academic journey that transcends borders.
Student representatives also took the stage to share their perspectives. Nina Maria Tocci, a PhD candidate from Politecnico di Torino in Italy, spoke about her first impressions of China. She expressed admiration for the country's remarkable digitalization and innovation, and was deeply touched by the warmth and hospitality of the HUST community.
Hongmin GUO, an undergraduate student from the College of Life Science and Technology, recounted his experience at last year's summer school in France, illustrating how "when diverse perspectives come together, science knows no borders."
Since its launch in 2023, the HUST Global Summer School has grown into a key platform for international academic exchange and cooperation. Through its "Discover at HUST" International Student Summer Program, the university has welcomed over 1,000 international students from more than 40 countries, including the United States, Canada, the United Kingdom, Germany, and France and beyond.
Source: Office of International Affairs,HUST
Editor: Wei YAN Jiajia XUE
