Deepening International Academic Cooperation and Inspiring Scientific Innovation — Delegation from the School of Chemical Engineering and Light Industry Visits Kyoto University

To strengthen international cooperation and further advance talent cultivation, the School organized a delegation of 15 outstanding student representatives to visit Kyoto University in Japan, a world-renowned institution, for academic exchange activities from November 14 to 19, 2025. The exchange program received strong support and careful organization from Kyoto University and was actively promoted by Professor Keiji Maruoka, a full-time professor of the School and current President of the Chemical Society of Japan. Professor Maruoka has long been committed to promoting academic cooperation between China and Japan and cultivating young talents, and has achieved pioneering accomplishments in the fields of small organic molecules and phase-transfer asymmetric catalysis.

Known as the “cradle of scientists”,Kyoto University provided the visiting students with an immersive academic experience through its profound traditions of “university autonomy and academic freedom”.The delegation first participated in the “Kyoto Rising Star Lectures”,an academic exchange event organized under the leadership of Professor Maruoka. Internationally renowned scholars were invited to deliver lectures, including Professor Ming Joo Koh from the National University of Singapore and Professor Zachary Wickens from the University of Wisconsin–Madison. The two professors delivered insightful presentations on cutting-edge topics, including the application of photochemical editing strategies in complex molecular synthesis and new strategies for selective synthesis through photochemistry and electrochemistry, showcasing the latest advances in international chemical research. Faculty members and students from the School actively raised questions and engaged in in-depth discussions with the speakers on research challenges of interest, creating a vibrant atmosphere of academic interaction.

Professor Maruoka specially organized an academic seminar for the delegation at Kyoto University, transforming the exchange from “listening” into “dialogue”.During the seminar, scholars from the Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences of Kyoto University and seven graduate student representatives from the School delivered presentations in English and shared their latest research achievements in their respective cutting-edge research areas. Both sides exchanged ideas on scientific issues of mutual interest, and the intellectual interactions inspired new research ideas.

Professor Maruoka concluded the seminar by highly recognizing and praising the scientific research literacy and research quality demonstrated by the graduate students of the University. He also expressed his sincere expectations for the younger generation: He encouraged young scholars to pursue science with passion and respect, to make bold breakthroughs and innovations, and to strive for excellence with dedication, thereby contributing youthful strength to the advancement of their fields.

After the seminar, the students visited research laboratories at Kyoto University and experienced firsthand the innovative research atmosphere of this top university, which has produced nine Nobel laureates and advocates “innovation driven by curiosity”.The rigorous experimental design and open academic discussions deeply inspired the students, motivating them in their future research planning and strengthening their determination to pursue scientific innovation.

Beyond academic exchange, a red education tour added profound spiritual significance to the visit. In the scenic Arashiyama area of Kyoto, the students specially visited the Zhou Enlai Poetry Monument nestled among pine and maple trees. In April 1919, Zhou Enlai, who was studying in Japan at the time, composed the poemArashiyama in the Rainhere, expressing a young intellectual’s pursuit of truth and lofty aspirations. In 1979, a monument commemorating Premier Zhou Enlai and China–Japan friendship was established here at the initiative of Japanese friend Yoshimura Magosaburo, and Deng Yingchao personally attended the unveiling ceremony, making the site an important symbol of China–Japan friendship and revolutionary spirit. From Zhou Enlai’s youthful aspiration to “study for the rise of China” to the three-generation commitment of the Yoshimura family to China–Japan friendship, the students gained a deeper understanding of the close connection between personal ideals and national destiny, as well as the responsibilities of young people in the new era.

The visit to Kyoto University was not only an academic exchange benchmarking against world-class disciplines, but also an important step in advancing the School’s internationalization strategy and strengthening substantive cooperation with leading global universities. It laid a solid foundation for future collaboration in scientific research, faculty and student exchange, and joint training programs in the fields of chemical engineering, light industry, chemistry, and pharmaceutical sciences. The School of Chemical Engineering and Light Industry and Professor Keiji Maruoka have reached a cooperation agreement. Moving forward, the School will continue leveraging international exchange platforms to promote the international development of discipline construction and talent cultivation, enabling students to broaden their academic horizons while strengthening their sense of social responsibility and growing into outstanding talents with both international competitiveness and commitment to the nation and society.(Photos/Textby: Liu Yan, Wang Zhe)