ITU Rector Prof. Dr. Hasan Mandal Visited China to Strengthen International Collaboration in Research, Innovation, Entrepreneurship, and Technology

Prof. Dr. Hasan Mandal's visit to China aimed to advance ITU's international collaborations focused on research, innovation, and entrepreneurship. In this context, a memorandum of understanding was also signed between Shanghai State-owned Capital Investment Co. (SSCI), TIMC, and ITU.

Our Rector Prof. Dr. Hasan Mandal paid a visit to China on June 1-3, 2026.

Signatures for the transformation of academic research into economic and social value

Our Rector stated that with the memorandum of understanding (MoU) between ITU, SSCI, and TIMC, they have established a framework to support the transformation of university research into economic and social value between Türkiye and China. He emphasized the importance of the signatures for the co-development of areas such as technology transfer, industry collaborations, entrepreneurship, and qualified human resources.

As part of the signing ceremony, the establishment of liaison offices in Shanghai and Istanbul to coordinate collaborations more effectively was discussed. Opportunities for the commercialization of research outputs were also on the agenda.

Joint Laboratory established with Shanghai Maritime University and accelerating relations

Prof. Dr. Mandal met with Rector Prof. Dr. Chu Beiping and the academic administration at Shanghai Maritime University. Our Rector stated that during the meeting, student and researcher mobility within the joint laboratory established by ITU and Shanghai Maritime University, as well as new cooperation opportunities in the fields of sustainable maritime and clean energy, were discussed. The two universities had taken a step in 2024 to establish a joint laboratory with a focus on decarbonization in the maritime sector.

During the meeting, in addition to the existing collaborations between Shanghai Maritime University and ITU, it was also agreed to implement joint degree programs at the undergraduate, master's, and doctoral levels.

Preparations for the 2026 WAITRO Summit and Education and research collaboration with NICE

Visiting the National Innovation Center par Excellence (NICE), Prof. Dr. Mandal met with NICE President Prof. Dr. Liu Qing. During the meeting, the preparation processes for the 2026 WAITRO Summit, which will be hosted by ITU, were discussed. Prof. Dr. Liu, President of NICE/JITRI, is also among the names attending the 2026 WAITRO Summit, themed "Pioneering the Path to Practice: Strengthening Co-creation for Our Common Future."

Our Rector expressed that they evaluated the strategic works they planned in line with the summit's theme and the contributions they will offer to the global ecosystem. He also highlighted the existing consensus between ITU and JITRI/NICE on co-developing education and research-oriented collaborations.

Transformative effects discussed at the innovation-themed conference and forum

Our Rector attended the 2026 Global Industrial Technology Innovation Conference and the China-Australia Innovation Week in Shanghai. Prof. Dr. Mandal delivered the opening speech of the event organized by NICE and WAITRO with the Federation of Chinese Scholars in Australia (FOCSA). Our Rector's evaluations focused on the transformation of innovation processes ranging from research to practice into structures that generate impact on a global scale.

Addressing the strategic importance of co-creation models developing between universities, research institutions, and industry, Prof. Dr. Mandal established a framework in his speech by touching upon the following topics: Sustainable Development Goals, primarily Goal 13 "Climate Action", the water-food-energy nexus, circular economy approaches, and just transition processes.

At the event, Prof. Dr. Mandal also explained the vision for the summit to be organized at ITU by WAITRO, where he continues his duty as President. He underlined that the function of global knowledge networks is no longer limited solely to knowledge production. He noted that these networks are transforming towards a structure that develops applicable and scalable solutions based on co-creation.

Our Rector took part as a speaker in the panel titled "AI-Empowered Engineering Education: Initiating a New Era in China-Australia Cooperation" at the China-Australia Innovation Forum. He set out from the transformative effects of artificial intelligence on higher education paradigms and evaluated the redesign of engineering education models.