CIB is pleased to announce that Southwest Jiaotong University in China is the latest organisation to join the CIB network as an Associate member.
Our Priorities for CIB Membership
As an Associate Member, SWJTU aims to contribute actively to CIB’s international community in both education and research.
A key priority is to establish a CIB Student Chapter at SWJTU, enabling students and early-career researchers to engage with international peers, participate in CIB Commission activities, and develop academic and professional networks through collaborative projects, seminars and international events.
The School also intends to participate in relevant CIB Commissions and Task Groups and develop research partnerships with member institutions. Building on its expertise in transport infrastructure, SWJTU is particularly interested in advancing international collaboration on Whole-Life Performance and Management of Transport Infrastructure, encompassing durability, resilience, monitoring, sustainable construction, maintenance and renewal.
We hope to work with CIB partners to develop joint research initiatives, international workshops and sustained academic collaboration.
About Southwest Jiaotong University
Founded in 1896 as the Imperial Chinese Railway College, Southwest Jiaotong University (SWJTU) is one of China’s oldest engineering universities and a birthplace of modern civil and transportation engineering education in China. Based in Chengdu, its School of Civil Engineering carries forward this 130-year tradition, with particular strengths in railway, bridge, tunnel, geotechnical and structural engineering.
The School has a distinguished history of engineering education and contributions to major infrastructure projects. Its alumni include Mao Yisheng, a pioneer of modern bridge engineering in China, and T. Y. Lin, an internationally renowned pioneer of prestressed concrete. Its researchers and alumni have contributed to landmark projects including the Qinghai–Tibet Railway and the Hong Kong–Zhuhai–Macao Bridge.
Today, the School addresses major challenges in transport infrastructure through research on intelligent and green construction, advanced materials, structural safety, long-term performance and durability, and disaster resilience. Supported by major national research platforms and large-scale experimental facilities for wind, wave, seismic and structural engineering, the School maintains close connections between fundamental research and engineering practice.
International education is also an important priority. The SWJTU–Leeds Joint School, established in partnership with the University of Leeds, offers a Civil Engineering with Transport degree programme that combines the academic strengths of both institutions and provides students with international learning opportunities.
The true performance of transport infrastructure is demonstrated over decades of service. Its safety, resilience and sustainability depend on decisions made throughout its life. With 130 years of civil engineering heritage, Southwest Jiaotong University has extensive experience in educating engineers and addressing major transport infrastructure challenges. Through CIB, we hope to bring this experience into a wider international research community and develop meaningful collaborations. Equally important to me is giving our students an active role in this process. Establishing a CIB Student Chapter and engaging with international research teams will help prepare the next generation of engineers to address challenges that extend across disciplines and national boundaries.
Professor Tengfei Xu
