Beijing recently hosted a coordination meeting for the recruitment phase of the 2026 Chinese Government Atomic Energy Scholarship Program (hereafter referred to as the Atomic Energy Scholarship). SHEN Lixin, Deputy Director-General of the Department of International Cooperation at the China Atomic Energy Authority, presided over the meeting. Vice President YU Zhiwen represented Harbin Engineering University (HEU) in presenting a report on the program’s implementation progress.
SHEN Lixin emphasized that participating universities must develop “training outlines” for the scholarship program as required, take part in teaching quality assessments, and effectively manage both recruitment and career guidance services. The China Nuclear Industry Education Society is tasked with formulating program management procedures to ensure the implementation of various specialized initiatives. He noted that these measures aim to help scholars perceive, understand, and familiarize themselves with China, fostering their expertise and passion for nuclear science, thereby contributing wisdom to the global nuclear industry’s development and its peaceful applications.
In his report, YU Zhiwen highlighted that HEU has consistently upheld an open approach to education. Since commencing the enrollment and training of Atomic Energy Scholarship recipients in 2017, the university has admitted a total of 306 master’s and doctoral students from 37 countries. Moving forward, the institution will continue to leverage its disciplinary strengths, engage in multilateral cooperation, and build an open and mutually enriching platform for cultivating talent in the nuclear field.
WANG Anmin, Executive Vice Chairman of the China Nuclear Industry Education Society, introduced the Society’s fundamental role. He expressed its commitment to serving as a bridging entity, connecting universities, enterprises, and international students, organizing specialized activities, and assisting in quality assurance and routine management for the program.
Representatives from the three major nuclear industry groups and their subsidiaries outlined their respective needs and capacities for cultivating international talent. They expressed their intent to strengthen collaboration with HEU to jointly advance the implementation of the Atomic Energy Scholarship Program. Participating universities also exchanged insights on their experiences, distinctive features, and basic circumstances regarding talent cultivation during the program’s second phase.
It is reported that the Chinese Government Atomic Energy Scholarship was jointly established by the Ministry of Education and the China Atomic Energy Authority in 2017, with the university entrusted as the specific implementing body for this specialized government scholarship initiative. The first phase of the program spanned five years, focusing primarily on Nuclear Science and Technology, with the university serving as the sole pilot institution. The second phase, launched in 2023, has expanded its disciplinary scope to include fields such as Nuclear Medicine, Nuclear Agriculture, and Geological Exploration, with the number of participating institutions increased to 13.
