On the afternoon of April 14, a delegation from the IEEE Smart Village visited the Department of Electrical Engineering. The delegation consisted of five members, including Zhang Xiaofeng, Vice Chair of the IEEE Smart Village Committee and Chair of its China Committee; Bian Jianhua, former President of IEEE PES (Power & Energy Society) and member of the U.S. National Academy of Engineering; Chen Yonghui, Head of Operations of the IEEE Smart Village China Committee; and Olayinka Omowunmi, Head of Project Development of the IEEE Smart Village Committee. The delegation was received by Kang Chongqing, Dean of the Department of Electrical Engineering at Tsinghua; Sun Kai, Deputy Dean of the Department; and Zhong Haiwang, Head of the Graduate Student Working Group. Others also participated in the exchange. The meeting was chaired by Sun Kai.

At the exchange meeting

On behalf of the department, Sun Kai extended a warm welcome to the IEEE Smart Village delegation's return visit. The IEEE Smart Village delegation presented an overview of the project, focusing on its three pillars: energy technology, technology education, and entrepreneurial development, with an emphasis on rural energy access and green sustainable development. They shared the latest global progress in smart village construction. Olayinka Omowunmi noted that the Department of Electrical Engineering at Tsinghua enjoys a high reputation in the academic field of electrical engineering and expressed hope that this visit would allow them to learn from the department's valuable experience in rural energy system development.

During the exchange and discussion session, the department presented its recent development overview and the latest updates on international cooperation. The two sides engaged in in-depth discussions on topics such as smart village energy systems, student overseas social practice, and academic journal and conference cooperation. Chen Jiaqi, a doctoral student in the department, presented an overview of the 2025 practice cooperation between the department and the IEEE Smart Village project in Zambia on behalf of the student social practice team, sharing the experiences and gains of department students involved in renewable energy research and community service in Africa. Kang Chongqing expressed hope for strengthened future cooperation in co-organizing academic activities and student social practice, contributing to the construction of beautiful rural areas and green energy utilization in countries along the Belt and Road. Zhang Xiaofeng stated that the IEEE Smart Village Committee looks forward to deepening cooperation with the department, aligning and coordinating existing relevant projects, and supporting student organizations in conducting joint practice activities.

Group Photo of Both Sides

This exchange further advanced the good cooperative relationship between the Department of Electrical Engineering and the IEEE Smart Village Committee, laying a solid foundation for in-depth collaboration in areas such as rural smart energy, student international practice, and academic exchange and communication.