The College of Civil Aviation at Nanjing University of Aeronautics and Astronautics (NUAA) held an "International Renowned Scholars Course Camp" lecture series on 9–10 November 2026. Speakers from the University of Bari Aldo Moro in Italy, the University of Manchester in the UK and Silicon Valley industry gave talks to nearly 100 students and staff.
The 3 talks covered the economics of self-driving transport, low-carbon energy stored underground and the use of artificial intelligence (AI) in airport and airline passenger services. These topics sit close to the college's work on air transport, airports and travel. Students heard current research and industry experience directly from international experts, without leaving campus.
Key facts
Dates: 9–10 November 2026, organised by NUAA's College of Civil Aviation.
Audience: nearly 100 students and staff from the college.
Speaker 1: Professor Angela Stefania Bergantino, University of Bari Aldo Moro, Italy.
Speaker 2: Associate Professor Junlong Shang, University of Manchester, UK.
Speaker 3: Dr SiYao Fu, former director of the AI department at a Silicon Valley autonomous-driving company.
The college plans to hold international lectures and joint seminars on a regular basis.
What happened
Professor Bergantino spoke on the economic drivers and public acceptance of automated transport systems and new mobility services. According to NUAA, the talk used cases such as competition and pricing between air and rail travel to show how these ideas can inform green and sustainable transport policy.
Associate Professor Shang presented research on fracture heterogeneity, meaning how uneven networks of cracks in rock affect the development of low-carbon underground energy. The talk shared results from combined experiments and simulations and described international projects the team runs with funding from the Royal Society and the European Union.
Dr Fu focused on passenger services in civil aviation. The talk described how the systems used by passengers, airlines and airports often work in isolation, and proposed a "shared spatial intelligence layer" that uses AI to link them. Dr Fu also spoke about taking technology into real products, working across teams and turning research into industry use.
The college describes the course camp as a key platform for international cooperation and academic exchange. It says it will keep bringing in overseas academic resources to support interdisciplinary teaching and research.
What this means for international students
Students in NUAA's civil aviation, transport and air traffic subjects regularly meet visiting scholars from Europe and industry, which helps them build an international network while studying in China. See which degrees are open to you on our programmes page, or explore NUAA's research areas.
Frequently asked questions
What is NUAA's International Renowned Scholars Course Camp?
It is a lecture series run by the College of Civil Aviation at Nanjing University of Aeronautics and Astronautics. The college invites leading researchers and industry experts from abroad to give talks and hold discussions with students and staff. The November 2026 edition included speakers from Italy, the UK and Silicon Valley.
What topics did the November 2026 lectures cover?
The 3 talks covered the economics and public acceptance of automated transport, how cracks in rock affect low-carbon underground energy development, and how AI could connect passenger, airline and airport systems. Speakers drew on air–rail competition, international research projects and experience of turning technology into products.
Can international students study civil aviation at NUAA?
Yes. NUAA's College of Civil Aviation teaches subjects linked to air transport, airports and aviation operations, and the university welcomes international applicants. Applications for the March 2027 intake are open. Check the programmes page for current degree options, teaching language and entry requirements before you apply.
Sources: NUAA News (College of Civil Aviation), 12 November 2026
