On the afternoon of October 13, 2026, the opening ceremony and kick-off of the China-Sweden Civil Engineering International Exchange Program was held in the conference room on the second floor of Li Wenzheng Library, Southeast University. A group of 23 faculty members and students from the Department of Structural Engineering at Luleå University of Technology in Sweden attended together with representatives of faculty and students from the Office of International Cooperation and the School of Civil Engineering of Southeast University. Hou Daoping, Director of the Internationalization Program Center of the Office of International Cooperation of Southeast University; Professor Guo Tong, Dean of the School of Civil Engineering; Professor Xie Tianyu, Assistant Dean; Professor Tu Yongming; Professor Gabriel Sas from Luleå University of Technology; Professor Lennart Elfgren, Academician of the Royal Swedish Academy of Engineering Sciences; Associate Professor Wang Chao; and Associate Professor Jaime Gonzalez-Libreros attended the opening ceremony. The opening ceremony was chaired by Professor Xie Tianyu.
Opening ceremony of the China-Sweden Civil Engineering International Exchange Program
At the beginning of the ceremony, all participants watched a global promotional video of Southeast University to learn about its history, disciplinary characteristics, and campus culture. Hou Daoping, Director of the Internationalization Program Center of the Office of International Cooperation of Southeast University, delivered a welcome address, extending a warm welcome to the faculty and students of Luleå University of Technology and introducing Southeast University's international cooperation and exchanges. He said that this exchange program is an important measure for the two universities to deepen cooperation in the field of civil engineering, and hoped that faculty and students from both sides would take this opportunity to broaden their academic horizons, enhance mutual understanding, and promote more substantive cooperation.
Professor Guo Tong, Dean of the School of Civil Engineering of Southeast University, introduced the School's situation in discipline development, talent cultivation, scientific research, and international exchange in his welcome address.He pointed out that structural engineering is related to building safety, infrastructure resilience, and green and low-carbon development, and looked forward to the two universities strengthening exchanges and mutual learning in related fields and jointly cultivating high-quality engineering talents with an international perspective.
Dean Guo Tong introduces the School and delivers a welcome address
Professor Gabriel Sas, Head of the Department of Civil Engineering at Luleå University of Technology, then spoke, introducing the basic situation of Luleå University of Technology and its civil engineering discipline, reviewing the history of cooperation between the two sides, and expressing thanks for Southeast University's warm reception. Professor Gabriel Sas is a Chair Professor in the Department of Structural Engineering at Luleå University of Technology and Chair of the Swedish Group of the International Association for Bridge Maintenance and Safety (IABMAS). He has served as head of the structural engineering discipline at the university since 2020. His main research direction is structural sustainability, and he has deep research accumulation in fields such as safety assessment, monitoring, and strengthening of existing structures. He expressed the hope that both sides would continue to expand cooperation areas and deepen faculty-student exchanges and research cooperation.
Professor Gabriel Sas introduces Luleå University of Technology and bilateral cooperation
After the speeches, the two sides exchanged gifts and took a group photo to express their best wishes for mutual friendship and cooperation.
Gift exchange between the Chinese and Swedish sides
Subsequently, faculty and students from both China and Sweden stood up. The Chinese faculty and students sang the Southeast University anthem to welcome the Swedish friends who had come from afar. The Swedish faculty and students, led by Academician Lennart Elfgren, sang an adapted song to the music of "My Bonnie is over the ocean" in response to the enthusiasm of Southeast University faculty and students. The two sides shared campus culture through singing, adding warm and unforgettable memories to the opening ceremony.
Performance of the Southeast University anthem and the Swedish side’s adapted song
Group photo of faculty and students from both sides
Faculty and students from Luleå University of Technology touring the campus by e-bike
This China-Sweden Civil Engineering International Exchange Program lasts 14 days and will build a platform for academic exchange and cultural mutual learning for faculty and students of the two universities. It is of great significance for promoting international cooperation in the field of civil engineering and enhancing the internationalization level of talent cultivation. After the opening ceremony, Swedish faculty and students will join faculty and students of the School of Civil Engineering of Southeast University in a series of academic lectures, laboratory visits, engineering practice, and cultural experience activities at Southeast University.
