Organized by the Smart Aviation Center of Hangzhou International Innovation Institute (H3I) of Beihang University and co-organized by the International Education Center of H3I, the 2025 International Summer School on Risks in New Aviation and New Energy officially opened at the Hangzhou International Campus of Beihang University on the afternoon of July 8. The program aims to further promote international education cooperation and cultural exchange, enhance the global vision and innovative capacity of young people, and promote exchanges and learning between domestic and international students. This summer school brings together outstanding students from around the world, providing participants with a multidimensional platform for in-depth learning, cross-cultural interaction, and technological innovation. The opening ceremony was attended by Frédéric Genty, the French Dean of Zhongfa Aviation Institute of Beihang University (ZFAI), and Zhang Wei, Vice Director of H3I, and 80 students from well-known universities at home and abroad, including the French Civil Aviation University (ENAC), the National Higher French Institute of Aeronautics and Space (ISAE), Paris-Saclay University, Polytechnic University of Milan, and Beihang University. The ceremony was presided over by Zhang Qingyuan, an associate professor from the Smart Aviation Center.
In his speech, Frédéric Genty said that the summer school would not only focus on academic exchanges but also promote cross-cultural understanding through a rich array of cultural activities and interactive workshops. He expressed the hope that participants could fully leverage the superior environment of the Hangzhou International Campus of Beihang University, which integrates modern innovation with cultural heritage, to reap rewards in academics, culture, and interpersonal communication, while enjoying an unforgettable stay in Hangzhou. He especially encouraged Chinese students in ENAC’s dual degree master's program and their French peers in ENAC’s engineer program to build lasting friendships and close connections, so as to deepen exchanges and learning between young Chinese and French people.
Professor Wang Xin from the Smart Aviation Center delivered remarks on behalf of the faculty. He pointed out that this summer school will draw on ZFAI’s integrated “undergraduate-to-postgraduate” training system and scientific research innovation laboratories to foster the innovation capacity of participants in response to industry changes. This will be achieved through a three-dimensional model of “academic discussion + technical training + cultural immersion”. Wang Xin emphasized that the program would place special emphasis on nurturing an international outlook and collaborative spirit. He expected that the sparks of wisdom could emerge as students from different cultural backgrounds learn together.
Yang Nan spoke as a student representative. As an incoming student at H3I, she shared her understanding of cross-cultural communication. She said that aerospace technology and new energy sectors were facing unprecedented opportunities and challenges for development. This summer school has established a valuable platform of learning for students from all over the world. Through this program, she expected to acquire cutting-edge knowledge and enhance practical skills. Moreover, she wanted to expand her international perspective through exchanges and cooperation with students from different cultural backgrounds. She believed that the summer school experience would be unforgettable for every participant.
On behalf of H3I, Zhang Wei extended a warm welcome to all guests and participants. He said that as an important venue of Beihang University for international education, H3I had attached great importance to international exchanges and cooperation. Being committed to fostering cultural exchange and mutual learning between China and foreign countries, H3I is making continued efforts to build a multidimensional cooperation network and an international scientific and educational innovation platform. He hoped that outstanding students from home and abroad could make full use of the summer school to visit the campus, discover Hangzhou, and experience China, so that they could acquire knowledge through learning and foster friendship through communication, and therefore have a wonderful and unforgettable summer journey together.
Following the opening ceremony, the “ice-breaking” activity of the summer school kicked off amid laughter and cheers.
On July 4, the 7th Meeting of the China-France High-level Dialogue Mechanism on People-to-People Exchanges was held in Paris. The meeting highlighted the importance of enhancing youth exchange between the two countries, particularly in education, culture, and technology. The Foreign Ministers of the two countries reiterated that deepening interaction among young people would be pivotal to the long-term development of China-France relations. The organization of this summer school is a practical step to implement the joint statement issued at the meeting. Through 12 days of academic lectures, hands-on courses, and cultural experience activities, the program will not only provide opportunities for participants from all over the world to learn and exchange ideas with each other, but also promote cooperation and mutual learning between young Chinese and French people in aviation and new energy. As the Foreign Ministers emphasized, cross-cultural exchange among young people laid the solid foundation for future friendship between the two countries. This is just one of the core objectives of the summer school. Within an international education platform, participants will build a bridge of cross-border friendship through mutual learning and common progress.
This summer school has been selected for the Young Envoys Scholarship (YES) Program by the Ministry of Education. It has also received strong support from the United Front Work Department of the CPC Yuhang District Committee, the Overseas Chinese Federation of Yuhang District, the Yuhang District Committee of China Zhi Gong Party, and the Liangzhu Cultural Corridor Construction Command.
Approved by Dong Zhuoning, Zhang Wei, Xu Ran
Edited by Yuan Xiaohui
