To deepen international educational cooperation under the "Belt and Road" initiative and promote scientific, technological, and cultural exchanges between Chinese and Malaysian youth, a delegation of faculty and students from the Faculty of Engineering, University of Malaya, Malaysia (hereinafter referred to as "the delegation") was invited to visit the School of Advanced Materials at Peking University Shenzhen Graduate School from May 7 to 11, 2025. During the visit, the delegation engaged in diverse activities, including academic seminars and cultural experiences, and conducted on-site visits to key laboratories at Peking University Shenzhen Graduate School and leading technology enterprises in the Greater Bay Area. The event was organized by the School of Advanced Materials, with collaborative support from the Student Affairs Office, Academic Affairs Office, and General Affairs Office.
Group photo of faculty representatives from SAM with the delegation from the Faculty of Engineering, University of Malaya
On the evening of May 7, the delegation from the Faculty of Engineering, University of Malaya, arrived at Peking University Shenzhen Graduate School, marking the commencement of this exchange visit. Accompanied by faculty representatives and student volunteers from the School of Advanced Materials, the delegation toured the comprehensive exhibition hall and student activity center at Yanyuan Building No. 6. Through historical displays, a multifunctional dance studio, and a cozy reading lounge, they gained a comprehensive understanding of the development history of the Shenzhen Graduate School and the vibrant campus life of its students. During the visit, student volunteers presented the delegation with distinctive Peking University souvenirs and fostered warm and engaging discussions on topics such as college cultural activities and similarities and differences in campus life. The atmosphere was lively and congenial.
Group photo of the delegation during the visit to the Student Activity Center
On the morning of May 8, a welcome ceremony for the delegation was held in Room 203, Building C. Associate Dean of the School of Advanced Materials, Associate Professor Yinguo Xiao, delivered a welcome address, and provided a comprehensive overview of Peking University’s century-long academic tradition and achievements, with a particular emphasis on the international academic influence of its materials science discipline and the innovative practices of the School of Advanced Materials in interdisciplinary fields. Subsequently, nine faculty representatives from the school introduced their research groups and shared academic insights, showcasing the latest research achievements and distinctive strengths of their teams in cutting-edge fields such as advanced carbon materials, energy materials, materials genome engineering, organic optoelectronics, advanced display materials, and AI for Materials. During the tea break, faculty and students from both sides engaged in pragmatic discussions on topics such as the application process for master’s programs and alignment of specific research directions. At the conclusion of the ceremony, Associate Dean Yinguo Xiao and Associate Professor Khin Wee Lai from the University of Malaya exchanged commemorative gifts. They expressed a shared commitment to leveraging this visit as an opportunity to further deepen cooperation in talent cultivation and collaborative scientific innovation.
Associate Dean Yinguo Xiao of the School of Advanced Materials delivering a welcome address at the ceremony
Faculty representatives from the School of Advanced Materials giving academic presentations (from left to right, top to bottom): Shihe Yang, Yinguo Xiao, Jiaxin Zheng, Zhaolong Chen, Mingchao Wang, Hao Pan, Dewu Lin, Ligang Wang, Suihan Cui
Yinguo Xiao from Peking University (right) and Khin Wee Lai from the University of Malaya (left) exchanging commemorative gifts
On the afternoon of May 8, the delegation visited the China Spallation Neutron Source (CSNS), a national major scientific infrastructure, and the Songshan Lake Materials Laboratory. At CSNS, the delegation first toured the science and technology exhibition hall before conducting an on-site inspection of the target station and spectrometer hall, the core experimental facilities. Associate Dean Xiao provided a detailed explanation throughout. He introduced the construction history, operational mechanisms, and research applications of this major scientific facility, with a focus on the high-resolution neutron diffractometer developed under Peking University’s leadership and its significant contributions to research on novel energy storage materials. At the Songshan Lake Materials Laboratory, Dr. Lifeng Liu, head of the Energy Conversion and Storage Materials team, guided the delegation through research exhibition platforms, including the first materials science museum in the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area. Through rich physical exhibits and multimedia display systems, the delegation gained an in-depth understanding of the laboratory’s integrated innovation model encompassing “basic research, technology development, and industrial transformation,” and experienced firsthand the critical role of materials science innovation in driving socioeconomic development.
Group photo of the delegation during the visit to the China Spallation Neutron Source
Group photo of the delegation during the visit to the Songshan Lake Materials Laboratory
On the morning of May 9, the delegation immersed themselves in the research and teaching activities of Peking University Shenzhen Graduate School. They first attended a lecture on Advanced Materials Chemistry delivered by Dr. Zhaolong Chen, a distinguished researcher at the School of Advanced Materials. Through case studies on the molecular design principles and industrial applications of novel functional materials, the delegation gained an intuitive understanding of the teaching-research synergy and cutting-edge academic atmosphere characteristic of China’s top research universities. Subsequently, accompanied by faculty and student guides, the delegation visited the School of Chemical Biology and Biotechnology, touring laboratories led by Professors Jinjun Gao, Yu Cao, and Junmin Quan, as well as the Experimental Animal Center. Through live demonstrations of key technological platforms, including nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopy for structural analysis, high-resolution mass spectrometry (HRMS) for molecular identification, and gel imaging systems for protein detection, the delegation gained a deep understanding of how the school leverages these advanced technologies to advance research and achieve a series of innovative outcomes on tumor immunotherapy, neurodegenerative diseases, and chemical genomics.
Group photo of the delegation with faculty and student representatives from the School of Chemical Biology and Biotechnology
In the afternoon, the delegation visited two industry-leading enterprises, ZTE Corporation (hereinafter “ZTE”) and OPPO Guangdong Mobile Communications Co., Ltd. (hereinafter “OPPO”), to explore the forefront of Chinese technological innovation and industrial development. At ZTE’s headquarters, the delegation toured the corporate exhibition hall to learn about the company’s transformation from a telecommunications equipment manufacturer to a leader in 5G technology, with a focus on its breakthroughs in base station chips and proprietary operating systems. This visit highlighted the resilience and innovation of Chinese technology enterprises in overcoming critical technological bottlenecks. At OPPO’s Shenzhen headquarters, the delegation explored the company’s exhibition hall to understand its development history, invention patents, product portfolio, and core technologies. In a subsequent discussion session, they engaged with OPPO’s campus recruitment team and Peking University alumni representatives on topics such as corporate values, overseas talent recruitment needs, standards for multinational corporations, and internship and employment opportunities.
The delegation visiting the ZTE Corporation exhibition hall
The delegation engaging in discussions with OPPO representatives
This visit significantly deepened mutual learning and understanding between the two institutions. It not only enhanced the University of Malaya delegation’s comprehensive understanding of Peking University Shenzhen Graduate School’s distinctive educational model, materials science discipline development, and talent cultivation approaches but also allowed participants to experience firsthand the vibrant academic atmosphere of Chinese universities and the dynamic ecosystem of technological innovation in Chinese enterprises. Both sides agreed that this event contributes to elevating the internationalization of their educational programs and will inject sustainable momentum into higher education cooperation and research innovation exchanges under the “Belt and Road” framework.
