On October 28, the award ceremony of the "Materials Π Plan – The Intelligent Innovation Journey from Campus to Industry" thesis competition, jointly organized by the International Excellence Engineering School and Arkema, a global leader in specialty materials, was successfully held in Room D201 of the Fengxian Campus. As a key part of deepening industry-academia-research collaboration between the two parties, this event focused on innovation in materials science and its industrial application, helping students bridge the gap between academic research and industrial practice.
This thesis competition, the first of its kind jointly initiated by Arkema and the International Excellence Engineering School, attracted active participation from numerous students. Centered on research themes such as "Deconstructing Technical Barriers," "Diagnosing Market Penetration," and "Blueprint for Green Transition," the students deeply integrated academic research with industrial needs, demonstrating outstanding technical insight and innovative thinking.
During the event, Le Zehua, a sophomore from the International Excellence Engineering School, shared his internship experience at Arkema as an outstanding intern representative. Drawing from his involvement in corporate projects, he recounted how he applied classroom knowledge to real-world R&D scenarios and how his internship at Arkema helped enhance his professional skills and broaden his industry perspective.
Several alumni of ECUST shared their growth stories at Arkema through video messages, encouraging current students to pursue their dreams courageously and use innovation to build a more sustainable future.
On the day of the event, Arkema extended internship invitations to outstanding students, expressing hope that more young talents would join this practical platform. Here, students will engage deeply in cutting-edge projects, gain firsthand exposure to R&D environments, explore career directions through real workplace challenges, and push their limits.
During the thesis competition, a group of high-achieving students received awards. In the postgraduate category, Liu Lei won the first prize, while Xu Xiaoqin and Su Lexuan received the second and third prizes, respectively. In the undergraduate category, Ma Yien secured the first prize, with Liu Shu and Han Yutong awarded the second and third prizes, respectively. The research conducted by the awardees demonstrated both innovation and professionalism, showcasing their potential to transition from academic thinking to industrial application. In addition to monetary prizes, the winners earned direct access to the final round of interviews for long-term internships at Arkema, taking a significant step forward in their career development.
The International Excellence Engineering School has always placed great emphasis on establishing long-term, stable partnerships with industry leaders. Moving forward, the School will continue to expand multi-level collaborations with outstanding enterprises like Arkema, jointly creating high-quality platforms that integrate innovation and talent cultivation. This effort aims to support student growth and development, contributing more outstanding engineering talents to China's materials industry and the cause of sustainable development.
