Hangzhou Dianzi University is one of the largest universities in China. It is famed as the "birthplace of entrepreneurs", and features a vast international entrepreneurial network; it's most successful representative is Alibaba Group's founder Jack Ma. As of now, more than 40 research institutions with 2000 researchers and lecturers are part of the university. HDU operates under the direct control of China's Ministry of Industry and Information Technology and the local government; one of its focuses is training specialists in the fields of electric engineering and computer technologies.

For several years already, ITMO University has been organizing international summer schools as part of its collaboration with HDU. The summer schools are organized with the direct participation of Alexei Bobtsov, Head of the School of Computer Technologies and Controls and Sergei Chepinskiy, Associate Professor for the Department of Computer Science and Control Systems.

Students of  School of Computer Technologies and Controls

Traditionally, the International Summer School of Control Systems and Robotics is conducted by ITMO's Department of Computer Science and Control Systems. Each year, it welcomes Bachelor's and Master's students from China's major universities. This year, however, the collaboration extended significantly: for the first time in its history, there were two more summer schools organized by the School of Computer Technologies and Controls’ other departments. On June 15, the Department of Computation Technologies launched the International Summer School of Computation Technologies, and the Department of Electrical Engineering and Precision Electromechanical Systems launched the International Summer School of Electrical Engineering, Automation & Control Systems that featured four basic courses dedicated to such topics as modern electromechanical systems, energy-efficient transformers and their control methods, including methods that make use of fuzzy logic algorithms.

The school's organizers and student at the school's closing ceremony

According to Dmitriy Lukinchev, Associate Professor at the Department of Electrical Engineering and Precision Electromechanical Systems and head of this summer school, the courses focused on not just theory, but also featured serious practical training. After the lectures, the students worked on practice-oriented projects in the field of electrical power engineering and electrical technology.

"I am a second year student, I am studying engineering in the field of manufacturing processes' automation and mechanization. We learned about the summer school in St. Petersburg from our lecturer who invited us to participate in it. I didn't know a lot about this city before, though we know a lot about Russia and love its culture, the people here are very open and are good experts, especially in what has to do with computer technology, control systems and electrical engineering. This summer school has become an incredibly useful experience," shares Li Zhengbei, a student from HDU.

Students of the summer school


"My research has to do with the field of electrical engineering and automation, yet I think that I'll need good skills in IT for my future profession. We came to ITMO because our university has long-standing ties with it. Also, we know that Russia has a strong tradition of computer technology, and the lecturers here are all highly qualified specialists," adds Zhang Zhuqi, another HDU student.


The summer school ended on June 28. A delegation from HDU headed by its director, Zhu Zefei, came to ITMO for the closing ceremony. Together with Daria Kozlova, ITMO's Vice-Rector for International Relations, and the School of Computer Technologies and Controls’ administration Mr. Zhu Zefei congratulated the students and presented them with certificates.

President  Zhu Zefei (on the left) and Daria Kozlova


"Our university holds the leading positions in Russia in what has to do with Computer Technologies, and the Hangzhou Dianzi University is the leader in its field in China, so both parties understand the importance of their future collaboration in both research and education," comments Dmitriy Lukichev, Associate Professor for the Department of Electrical Engineering and Precision Electromechanical Systems.

Apart from students from HDu, more than 20 students from Shanghai University of Engineering Science took part in the School of Computer Technologies and Controls summer school. They will finish their educational programs on September 5th.