On the afternoon of April 14, a delegation from IEEE Smart Village paid a visit to the Department of Electrical Engineering and Applied Electronics (EEA), Tsinghua University. A five-member delegation attended the visit, including Zhang Xiaofeng, Vice Chair of the IEEE Smart Village Committee and Chair of the IEEE Smart Village China Committee; Bian Jianhua, Former President of IEEE Power & Energy Society (PES) and Member of the US National Academy of Engineering; Chen Yonghui, Head of the Operations Group of the IEEE Smart Village China Committee; and Olayinka Omowunmi, Head of the Project Development Group of the IEEE Smart Village Committee.
Kang Chongqing, Dean of EEA, Tsinghua University; Sun Kai, Deputy Dean of EEA; Zhong Haiwang, Leader of the Postgraduate Working Group of EEA; and other representatives attended the exchange. The meeting was chaired by Sun Kai.
Scene of the Exchange Meeting
On behalf of EEA, Sun Kai extended a warm welcome to the IEEE Smart Village delegation on their return visit. The delegation gave an overview of the IEEE Smart Village program, centered on its three pillars of energy technology, science and technology education, and entrepreneurship development, with a focus on inclusive rural energy access and green sustainable development, and shared the latest progress in global smart village development.
Olayinka Omowunmi stated that EEA enjoys a distinguished reputation in the field of electrical engineering, and expressed the hope to learn from EEA’s valuable experience in rural energy system construction through this visit.
During the panel discussion, EEA introduced its general development in recent years and the latest progress in international cooperation. The two sides held in-depth discussions on topics including smart village energy systems, overseas social practice for students, and cooperation on academic journals and conferences.
Chen Jiaqi, a PhD candidate from EEA, delivered a speech on behalf of the student social practice team. He introduced the 2025 social practice program in Zambia jointly launched by EEA and the IEEE Smart Village program, and shared the experience and achievements of EEA students in participating in renewable energy research and community services in Africa.
Kang Chongqing expressed the hope that the two sides would strengthen cooperation in jointly hosting academic activities and organizing student social practice in the future, so as to support the construction of a beautiful countryside and the application of green energy in countries along the Belt and Road. Zhang Xiaofeng noted that the IEEE Smart Village Committee looked forward to further deepening cooperation with EEA, aligning and coordinating the existing projects of both parties, and supporting student organizations in carrying out joint practical activities.
Group Photo of Both Parties
This exchange has further strengthened the sound cooperative relationship between EEA and the IEEE Smart Village Committee, laying a solid foundation for in-depth cooperation between the two sides in rural smart energy, international student practice, academic exchange and communication, and other fields.
