Article source: CRI Online 16/09/2011
Writer: Chen Huiting

CRI Online reported The opening ceremony of Sino-French Institute of Nuclear Engineering & Technology, which was co-founded by Sun Yat-Sen University and FINUCI, was held in Zhuhai Campus of SYSU. This marks the official establishment of the first whole system nuclear energy specialty institute which is jointly built by China and France.

President of SYSU Xu Ningsheng said on the opening ceremony, “by establishing the joint education partnership, we hope to fully absorb the successful experience of French engineering education, incorporate it with Chinese higher education system, explore new approach of international elite education, and strive to develop the civil nuclear industry top talents education system in China’s context.Alain Juppé, French Minister of State and Minister of Foreign and European Affairs, stated in his speech that the cooperation project combined Chinese famous university with French quality education mode, bonded universities together with enterprises, which stood for the vitality of French-Sino cooperation in technology and university education, signified the attention that both sides paid to nuclear energy’s development, and also symbolized their commitment to nuclear safety.

It is said that the preparation of Sino-French Institute of Nuclear Engineering & Technology started in 2006, and the institute began to officially enroll students in 2010. One of its characteristics for school-running is to make the most of the modes and experiences of French nuclear engineering education and talents cultivation, combining them with Chinese higher education system and its advantages, to foster top talents in nuclear energy research and engineering management; the second feature is by allying with Chinese Academy of Sciences, French Atomic Energy Commission, enterprises of both countries, the institute aims to set up a united nuclear energy R&D center, and to provide intelligence support for China’s nuclear industry development.

The courses will last for six years altogether, namely a three-year elite preparatory course period and a three-year engineer education period. The French are responsible for making teaching plans and confirming contents of courses for the two periods, while teachers from both sides undertake the teaching. The institute has nearly 200 students at present.