Students from the Quanyin International Class at Huazhong Agricultural University (HZAU) visited Anhui Quanyin Hi-Tech Seed Co on Sept 11.
Zhang Qin, vice-chairman and general manager of the company, warmly received the students. He introduced the company's development history, main business areas, and future plans, expressing the hope for deeper collaboration with HZAU with a focus on integrating industry, academia, and research to meet global agricultural needs and contribute to global agricultural development.
The international students shared their life and study experiences at HZAU.
Hla Myo Thwin from Myanmar said, "Initially, I faced many challenges due to the unfamiliar environment and language barrier. However, I gradually adapted and can now communicate fluently in Chinese. I actively participated in cultural exchange activities, which helped me integrate into this vibrant country."
Nyande Ashadu from Sierra Leone added, "When I first arrived at HZAU, I felt lost and anxious. Over time, I adapted and fell in love with the university. Despite the complex experiments and data analysis, I never gave up my pursuit of knowledge and passion for research. I also joined the university's International Volunteer Center, bridging friendships between international and Chinese students."
During the Q&A session, international students asked questions about seed technology, market demand, and industry trends. Jiang Sanqiao, deputy general manager of Quanyin Hi-Tech Seed Co, answered their questions and shared his insights into the seed industry.
Jiang Sanqiao (L) briefs the international students from HZAU on the development of the company. [Photo/news.hzau.edu.cn]
On Sept 12, the students explored modern agriculture at the company's Nangang Research Base.
Lei Zhaojing from the Overseas Business Department led the students into the fields to observe the performance of new rice varieties. Barrie Alpha Umaru, an international student at HZAU, expressed admiration for the excellent traits of the new varieties, noting that innovative breeding techniques are crucial for addressing the challenges posed by global climate change.
A lab internship for the students was organized on the same day. The students experienced various experiments, including rice quality testing, molecular disease resistance breeding, and seed quality testing. Maaz Ullah, an international student, remarked on the hard work of farmers and the wisdom of researchers behind each grain of rice.
The students test the quality of the rice in the laboratory. [Photo/news.hzau.edu.cn]
Asif Muhammad, another international student, expressed his gratitude, saying, "I am thankful to Quanyin Hi-Tech Seed and HZAU for providing this platform. The visit gave me a clearer understanding of the current trends in crop breeding and the popular research directions. I am determined to apply my knowledge and skills to contribute to the industry."
In August 2019, the College of Plant Science & Technology at HZAU signed an agreement with Quanyin Hi-Tech Seed to establish the "Quanyin International Cooperation Class". This program aims to reform talent cultivation models through school-enterprise collaboration, improve the effectiveness of the college's education, and help expand the enterprise's global business.
The project focuses on training international leaders to address practical agricultural problems and promote agricultural industrialization. Recruited students are recommended by Quanyin Hi-Tech Seed's overseas bases and will be given priority for positions at the company after graduation.
Over the past four years, the program has enrolled 20 students, and explored innovative, small-classes with dual-mentor and internationalized training models to meet the international talent needs of enterprises.
