On September 24, NEFU and St. Petersburg State Forestry University (SPbSFU) in Russia agreed to establish mutual overseas graduate innovation practice bases. A plaque unveiling ceremony was held at SPbSFU, marking the official establishment of NEFU’s first-ever overseas graduate innovation practice base.
From September 22 to 26, at the invitation of SPbSFU, a delegation led by Qu Fayi, Vice Dean of NEFU’s Graduate School, visited Russia for a friendly exchange.
On the morning of September 24, a working meeting occurred at SPbSFU. It was attended by Irina Aliberdovna, President of SPbSFU, Vice Presidents Alexander Alexandrovich and Natalia Valeryevna, and seven other Russian representatives. Irina warmly welcomed the delegation and introduced SPbSFU’s background and areas of potential cooperation. Qu Fayi then outlined the purpose of the visit and expressed hopes to expand collaboration into additional fields. Following these discussions, both sides signed the “Agreement on the Mutual Establishment of Overseas Graduate Innovation Practice Bases between NEFU and SPbSFU.”
In the afternoon, the delegation discussed in-depth with Alexander Alexandrovich, Vice President of SPbSFU, Svetlana Viktarovna, Director of International Cooperation, and six other Russian representatives. The discussions focused on establishing the China-Russia Forestry Education University Alliance, the China-Russia Northeast Asia Biodiversity Center, and detailed arrangements for graduate student practice. Both parties negotiated key issues and reached initial agreements.
On September 25, a faculty-student meeting was held at SPbSFU, attended by Vice President Alexander Alexandrovich, Dmitry Alexandrovich, Head of the Department of Soil Science, and five other Russian representatives. During the meeting, Wang Jinghong, Dean of NEFU’s School of Landscape Architecture, delivered an academic report titled “Research on the Stress Resistance of Elymus.” Qu Fayi, Vice Dean of NEFU’s Graduate School, and Du Xuejing also gave reports on graduate programs and student training. Ji Xiaoyan, Deputy Director of the International Cooperation Office, answered students’ questions and participated in interactive discussions with Russian students. Li Yuemei, Head of International Student Education Management at NEFU, provided translation throughout the event and promoted NEFU. During the meeting, Wang Jinghong also had in-depth discussions with Alexander Sergeyevich, Dean of SPbSFU’s Faculty of Landscape, Architecture, and Wood Processing, on faculty and student exchanges, as well as short-term project collaborations. Additionally, a student who had participated in a short-term exchange program at NEFU during the winter of 2023 shared their experiences.
During the visit, the delegation also toured critical facilities at SPbSFU, including the Lisinsky Educational and Experimental Forest Station, the Forest Insect Museum, the Vertebrate and Hunting Science Museum, the Botanical Garden, and several teaching and research departments related to forestry and landscape architecture. They also visited Student Dormitory No. 5, which will serve as the living and learning space for NEFU graduate students during their practice tasks at the base.
