In early December, representatives from Huazhong University of Science and Technology (HUST) visited the University of Nebraska-Lincoln. The delegation from HUST, which is located in Wuhan, China, was here to discuss a possible collaboration with the UNL Department of Computer Science and Engineering and the Department of Electrical Engineering. The universities are exploring opportunities to create an undergraduate and graduate exchange program.
The collaboration would potentially allow HUST students to spend two years studying in Wuhan and then finish their degrees at UNL. Promising undergraduate students would be given the opportunity to attend the graduate program, and faculty could spend time in the CSE department as well.
HUST is one of the top three Electronic Science and Technology programs in China, so the program would give UNL the opportunity to work with high caliber students and faculty. There would be synergy between the two programs, as the HUST EST focuses more on the physical design of computers and the expertise of CSE is in upper levels of computer system design. The partnership would also create more opportunities for research.
The connection with HUST began almost two decades ago with CSE professor Dr. Hong Jiang. He received his bachelor’s degree from HUST and returned in 1995 to begin a personal collaboration with the university. His association with HUST built the foundation for UNL’s partnership. Other CSE faculty have become involved with HUST since, including Dr. Sharad Seth. Though the collaboration has been developed since 2008, financial reasons have prevented it from being realized. Seth said, “This is the vision that we hope will happen. Our goal is to have something in place by the next academic year.” Jiang added, “This is a multi-step, multi-faceted process. The groundwork is laid, and if we can make this program happen, it will be very beneficial.”