On the morning of August 8, the opening ceremony of the 2026 International Summer School on Smart Builds Tomorrow (ISS SBT) was held at the Tunxi Road Campus of Hefei University of Technology (HFUT). The ceremony featured a welcome address by Zhuang Delin, Director of the Office of International Exchange and Cooperation, and a flag presentation by Wang Jingfeng, Dean of the College of Civil Engineering, to representatives of the international summer school participants. A total of 29 international participants from the United Kingdom, Tunisia, Uzbekistan, Oman, Uganda, and other countries attended the ceremony, together with faculty representatives from the Office of International Exchange and Cooperation and the College of Civil Engineering. Gao Peng, Associate Dean of the College of Civil Engineering, presided over the ceremony.

In his remarks, Zhuang Delin provided an overview of Hefei University of Technology’s strong engineering tradition and its research capabilities in serving major national strategies. He noted that in recent years, the university has vigorously expanded international exchanges and cooperation, advanced the “Study at HFUT” brand program, and strengthened university-industry collaboration to provide students with broader opportunities for global learning and practical experience. He encouraged all participants to cherish this valuable learning opportunity, enhance cross-cultural understanding and friendship among young people through mutual learning and exchange, and warmly welcomed them to return to HFUT in the future for further studies and to contribute to a new chapter of international exchange and cooperation.

Gao Peng introduced the overall program arrangements of the summer school. Focusing on the latest developments in smart construction, the program features a series of cutting-edge academic lectures, as well as visits and academic discussions at smart construction laboratories, Xinqiao International Airport, and major scientific facilities. Participants will also have the opportunity to experience the unique combination of Huizhou culture, major engineering projects, and advanced technologies.

International student representatives Megan Mcconochie and Meriem Selmi expressed their enthusiasm and anticipation for their upcoming academic and cultural experience at HFUT. They said they would make full use of the summer school platform to engage in in-depth exchanges with leading scholars, gain a deeper understanding of China’s achievements in scientific and technological innovation, experience China’s rich traditional culture, and further enhance their academic knowledge and capabilities.

The 2026 International Summer School will further deepen practical cooperation between HFUT and countries along the Belt and Road in areas including talent development, collaborative innovation, and people-to-people exchanges.

Text: Zhang Ning, Wang Yongwei
Photos: Zhang Ning
Reviewed by: Wang Jingfeng, Hu Mengjie, Gao Peng