Chancellor Kent Syverud and Yang Zongkai, president of Xidian University.
Syracuse University and Xidian University have jointly established an International Center for Information Fusion and laid the foundation for potentially broader collaboration between the two institutions in areas of mutual academic interest.
The agreement follows a recent trip to China by Chancellor Kent Syverud and other representatives from Syracuse University that included a visit to Xidian University. The visiting Syracuse delegation also included Zhanjiang (John) Liu, vice president for research; Pramod Varshney, Distinguished Professor of Electrical Engineering and Computer Science and director of the University’s Center for Advanced Systems and Engineering (CASE); Peter Vanable, associate provost of graduate studies and dean of the Graduate School; and Dr. Ruth Chen, professor of engineering and computer science. During the visit, Chancellor Syverud and Xidian University President Yang Zongkai signed the broad agreement for cooperation while professor Varshney of Syracuse University and professor Hongwei Liu of Xidian University signed the agreement to establish the International Center for Information Fusion.
“This is an important opportunity for Syracuse University to broaden its research programs, says Syracuse’s John Liu. “Using the existing collaborations as a foundation, our goal is to expand collaborations into broad areas, including graduate education, teaching and the student experience for both universities. I look forward to exploring the possibilities it offers for facilitating joint research and training in other areas of common interest and strength.”
Information fusion is the process of combining information originating from different sources in order to improve decision making. It is being applied to a wide variety of fields, such as health, the environment and security.
Varshney will serve as co-director of the newly established center as well as serve as the coordinator for the agreement for Syracuse University. A member of Syracuse’s engineering faculty since 1976 and director of CASE since 2009, Varshney is known worldwide for his significant expertise in the field of data and multi-sensor information fusion.
The program will include an exchange of faculty and students, with five students supported by the China Scholarship Council coming to Syracuse University each year. Both universities also will encourage development of overseas study programs where mutually beneficial and appropriate.
