On 20 March 2024, Ruhr-Universität Bochum welcomed a delegation from Tongji University to extend existing cooperation agreements and conclude a new agreement in the field of civil engineering. In addition, Prof. Dr Günther Meschke was awarded the title of "Advisory Professor" by Tongji University.

Tongji University, which is one of the most renowned universities in China, has been a partner of Ruhr-Universität since 1980. The first contacts were in the three engineering sciences, physics and chemistry. An eleven-strong delegation including the president has now visited Bochum.

In addition to the extension of existing collaborations between Tongji University and areas of the Ruhr University, the so-called Frame Cooperation Agreement was concluded between the College of Civil Engineering and the Faculty of Civil and Environmental Engineering. The faculty was invited to join the Sino-D-A-CH Research Centre of Smart Civil Engineering. Tongji University is one of the world's leading universities in the field of civil engineering. "An important goal of the centre is to promote global efforts to achieve sustainable development in the construction industry," said Vice-Rector for Research and Transfer Prof. Dr Günther Meschke.

After the contracts were signed, Prof. Meschke was honoured by Tongji University with the title of "Advisory Professor".

Representatives from the College of Civil Engineering at Tongji University then visited the Faculty of Civil and Environmental Engineering to exchange expertise. Dr Hussein Alawieh, Head of the Construction Parts Testing Department (KIB-KON), gave the guests a tour of the test hall together with Prof Meschke and Dean of the Faculty Prof Dr habil. Marc Wichern through the test hall and workshop, which were founded in 1982 by the chairs of the Institute of Structural Engineering as a joint facility for experimental teaching and research. Ruby, the robot dog of the Chair of Computer Science in Civil Engineering, was also on site.

Cover image: © RUB, Marquard