Update from IET China

Academic Affiliates

Two more Chinese universities have signed on as IET Academic Affiliates: Ning Xia University and North China Electric Power University. This brings the total number of Chinese participants in the programme, which launched in mid-2011, to six.

Interest in joining the scheme in 2012 has also been expressed by universities in cities such as Shanghai and Guangzhou.

SAFEA meeting

IET business development manager Lulu Zhao recently organised a meeting between leaders from the Institution’s Chinese Academic Affiliates and China’s State Administration of Foreign Experts Affairs (SAFEA).

IET president Dr Mike Short and staff members Ian Mercer, Stuart Govan and Eric Ding also attended the meeting, along with leading Chinese media organisations including Xin Hua News Agency, Guangming Daily and China Education online.

Annual Dinner

At this year’s IET China Annual Dinner on 5 January, Dr Mike Short presented an IET Honorary Fellowship to Madam Li Mofang for her contributions to mobile telecommunications. Madam Li was formerly the CTO of China Mobile Limited, and is currently director of the company’s Technical Consulting Committee.

Other highlights of the event included the presentation of certificates to newly joined Academic Affiliates and an overview of IET China’s three-year plan.

In summary, it has been a great start to the year for the IET team in Beijing. Looking ahead, country head Eric Ding commented: “2012 is a critical year for the IET in China. We will produce more customised and localised services and products for IET members and local communities. We will also aim to raise awareness amongst engineers and technicians who are not familiar with us yet about how IET membership can help facilitate international recognition of their skills.”