Academic Year 2006-2007

Yuan Ze University

Department of Industrial Engineering and Management

Overseas Academic Visiting Report

This academic visit in China was led by Professor Su and Professor Liang. During March 29 to April 3, 2007, they took 26 students to Shanghai Volkswagen, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Hong Kong Polytechnic University, Chinese University of Hong Kong, proceeding a visiting journey of six days

Visiting Institutes

Shanghai Volkswagen Corporation

Shanghai Jiao Tong University

Hong Kong Polytechnic University

Chinese University of Hong Kong

The List of Visitors

Visiting Date

March 29, 2007 - April 3, 2007

Shanghai Volkswagen Corporation

Shanghai Volkswagen Corporation is a vehicle production enterprise which China and German put up capital and was established in March, 1985. It’s now one of the modern vehicle production bases which has the largest production scale.

The receptionist first played a short film of Shanghai Volkswagen’s introduction, then took us to visit the production procedure of one of the three large factory buildings. What’s amazing is the double-decked conveyor belt of Shanghai Volkswagen. The upper formation is mainly for conveying chassis that have not yet been processed, while the mechanical arms and the equipments are set up in the lower level space. Such ingenious conception can not only increase the production space to promote the output, but also enlarge the ground space. The plan of the factory areas makes the factory well-regulated. The clever design is worthy of being a reference model for populous Taiwan.

As a result of Shanghai Volkswagen’s consideration of the commercial secret, taking photos and asking questions while visiting are prohibited. Without taking photos and asking questions, we can’t have more understanding of the details of the production process and the management strategies, which is quite a pity.

Shanghai Jiao Tong University

Shanghai Jiao Tong University (SJTU), directly subordinate to the Ministry of Education, is a key university in China, jointly run by the Ministry and Shanghai Municipality. Shanghai Jiao Tong University formerly the Nang Yang Public School was founded in 1896 by Mr. Sheng Xuanhuai. It is one of the oldest universities in China. The University, through its century-long history, has nurtured large numbers of outstanding figures and made significant contributions to the thriving and prosperity of the nation and the development of science and technology. SJTU has been actively involved in International academic exchange programs with foreign universities. To date, it has established relations with more than 100 renowned universities and colleges in the world as well as connections with many research institutions, corporations and enterprises at home and abroad. SJTU is the nodal point of  "China Education Science and Research Networks" in east China region, and through computer networks, SJTU has faster and closer connection with universities, scientific research institutions and corporations both at home and abroad.

Shanghai Jiao Tong University has many school campuses. What we visited is the latest Min Hang Campus with some equipments under construction. Min Hang Campus occupied an area of about 284.5 hectare, which is ten more times than Yuan Ze University. We visited department of industrial engineering and management. In China, the department of industrial engineering and management is a new and developing department. With the change of the market, the rising of the manufacturing industry and the economy, people with knowledge of department of industrial engineering and management is welcomed to job market, and that is quite different in Taiwan.

In Shanghai Jiao Tong University, we first entered the building of department of industrial engineering and management. Their teachers and students who are going to receive us have already waited in the conference room. Then professor Zu-hua Jiang of Shanghai Jiao Tong University and professor Yun-Chia Liang of Yuan Ze University made a brief introduction to each other. After the meeting, their students led us to visit the campus and interchanged ideas.

During nearly two hours, the students of Shanghai Jiao Tong University not only led us to visit their campus, but also shared their experiences in learning and daily lives. In this way, we could have more understanding of the differences between students in China and in Taiwan.

In the campus of Shanghai Jiao Tong University, all we can see are brand-new buildings and broad view, such as lake, grass and bridges. The students in China not only pay more efforts in studies, but also take more care of the society, economy, ...etc. Besides knowing the realities, they want to know more about your opinions. That really impressed me.

Even if Shanghai Jiao Tong University is a great university, the information provided for graduate students is limited. In Yuan Ze University , most of  the professors got a diploma overseas and there are some courses taught in whole English. Comparing with them, we have more information and teaching resources. Though their information and teaching resources can’t compete with us, their professional knowledge and English proficiency are right richer and higher than ours.

Hong Kong Polytechnic University

The Hong Kong Polytechnic University is a university with a proud and illustrious history. PolyU is strategically located in Hung Hom, Kowloon, on a site of approximately 93,500 square metres adjacent to the Cross Harbour Tunnel. A wide range of courses which directly meets industrial, commercial and community needs is offered.

When we arrived the Hong Kong Polytechnic University, we went to visit the library to know more about the operating system, operating processes and the service events. What impressed us most is that the universities in Hong Kong have integrated the loan platforms of every school. If you can’t find the book you want, you can make a reservation through this platform. That will promote the interchanges among students from different schools.

After visiting the library, we went to the department of Logistics. Because of the location, Hong Kong forms the key position of transportation. Logistics transport management and commercial management are popular topics. Besides, the department of Logistics of the Hong Kong Polytechnic University asked their students to take in intern in enterprises before graduating. It can help students accommodate with the lives in advance and learn some practical experiences. Integrating the theories and the practical events, students can apply more on their job.

Afterwards, we visited the department of industrial engineering and management. Due to the exceptionally support and cooperation from some enterprises, their labs are high-tech, including RFID, Simulation System of Material Flows, knowledge management, precision machinery, virtual reality…,etc.. Every lab has developed certain scale and achievement. When it comes to RFID, they design many hard wares and soft wares that can be applied in our daily lives.

For example, the library inspections, identity recognition, voice control system…, etc Every lab impressed us much. Furthermore, the students responsible for explaining are only university students rather than graduate students. In this way, university students can learn a lot from the labs. After the trainings from the labs, the experiences will be a great help for further studies and the job market.

Chinese University of Hong Kong

The Chinese University of Hong Kong founded in 1963. In 2006, there are more than 5,200 staff members, approximately 10,000 undergraduate and 2,000 research postgraduate students. Of these students, some 2,500 are from 45 countries and regions outside Hong Kong. The Chinese University of Hong Kong (CUHK) is a forward looking comprehensive research university with a global vision and a mission to combine tradition with modernity, and to bring together China and the West.                               

We mainly visited the virtual reality lab of department of System Engineering and Engineering Management. They apply virtual reality into the research of medical science, such as the human body structure and organ organization. Through the 3D glasses, you can see the three-dimensional image of the body structure.

Besides, they also invent a set of virtual reality system using the skill of force feedback to stimulate moxibustion therapy. Through the equipment, users can stimulate moxibustion to decrease the dangers in a real situation. However, there is still a lot of room for the equipment to make progresses.