As graduation nears, Yuan Yongqi, a 2022 undergraduate in the Sino‑foreign Naval Architecture and Ocean Engineering program, was named Most Internationally Influential Graduate. Backed by HIT and the University of Strathclyde, UK, he won a government-sponsored Scholarship under HIT’s “Global Navigator · Global Elite” program and will pursue a PhD at the University of Oxford.
“HIT is a world-renowned engineering university, and Strathclyde’s marine engineering program ranks among the global best. By integrating the strengths of both institutions, we jointly cultivate high-quality talent with global competitiveness,” said Professor Qian Hongliang, Vice President of HIT, Weihai. The program brings in Strathclyde’s advanced concepts and curriculum. Both sides have built a strong teaching team and a joint laboratory for international research projects. “Through high-quality cooperative education and academic links with top global disciplines and scholars, we bring in first-class faculty, resources, and ideas to upgrade the marine engineering discipline and broaden students’ international outlook,” Professor Qian added.
The program began admitting students in autumn 2020 and passed the Ministry of Education’s first‑cycle review in 2024. Of the first 34 graduates, 32 pursued further study, including 16 at QS top‑20 universities. In 2025, 20 of 32 graduates entered QS top‑100 institutions. In 2026, 25 graduates continued at well‑known domestic or overseas universities, while many others joined leading shipbuilding enterprises. (Note: Global university rankings are based on the QS World University Rankings of the respective years.)
Professor Atilla Incecik, a naval architecture and ocean engineering expert from the University of Strathclyde, lectures to students.
To broaden students’ international outlook and enhance their overall competence, the School of Marine Engineering has built a layered education system, said Associate Dean Yu Changli. The school arranges internships at leading enterprises and institutes such as Jiangnan Shipyard, CIMC Raffles, and the Korea Small and Medium Shipbuilding Research Institute. It also invites experts including a “Jiaolong” diver and a master designer from China State Shipbuilding Corporation, co‑hosts the International Forum on Marine Science and Technology with universities in China, UK, and South Korea, and runs a joint faculty‑student Party branch with over ten ideological‑education events annually.
Students intern at a renowned shipbuilding enterprise.
For students in this program, studying on Weihai campus is a continuous process of building their skills and international outlook. “Like other majors, we take basic courses and participate in science and technology innovation projects and social practice. What sets us apart is that our mathematics and physics courses use English textbooks, and more than one‑third of our courses are taught by faculty from the University of Strathclyde,” students say.
In his senior year, Yuan Yongqi and five classmates chose to study at the University of Strathclyde. Collaboration and competition with international peers further expanded their global perspectives. Yuan’s bachelor’s thesis was rated one of the best in his cohort. With recommendations from Professor He Guanghua of the School of Marine Engineering (HITWH) and Dr. David Dai, director of the Kelvin Hydrodynamics Laboratory at Strathclyde, he received an offer from the University of Oxford.
Yuan and classmates upon arrival at the University of Strathclyde.
“At Oxford, I will conduct theoretical research in fluid mechanics and build my academic network,” Yuan said. He hopes to act as a bridge among HIT, Strathclyde, and Oxford. “My studies are to better serve my country. After graduation, I will engage in research to support China’s maritime strategy and scientific self‑reliance.” (Zhang Yuqin)
