On the occasion of the 73rd birthday of the People’s Republic of China, the award ceremony of the 2022 Chinese Government Friendship Award was held. Professor Alexander Sjeremacher of the Beijing Institute of Technology (BIT) was awarded this prize, which is the third time that BIT has been awarded the Chinese Government Friendship Award.

Chinese Government Friendship Award: Established in 1991, the Chinese Government Friendship Award is the highest honor awarded by the Chinese government to foreign experts to thank and recognize their outstanding achievements and dedication to China's social development and economic, technological, educational, cultural and other construction undertakings as well as talent training.

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Alexander Sjerimakh

Alexander Sjerimakh is a professor of the School of Mechanical Engineering of BIT, PhD supervisor, director of the Laboratory of Nano-friction Science and Research of the National Aviation University of Ukraine, and chief researcher. He is mainly engaged in research in the field of mechanical friction, wears and lubrication, and nano-friction technology. He has published more than 150 academic papers, 2 monographs, and more than 30 patents, and his research results are widely used in industrial production and other fields. He has been awarded by the Ministry of Education, Science and Technology of Ukraine the prize for innovation in chemistry-motology, the prize for significant contribution to the development of education and training of higher personnel, the prize for significant contribution in the field of science and technology, and the prize for extraordinary achievements in the field of specialization.

As a scholar: taking root at BIT

Prof. Alexander Sjeremacher, an expert in tribology and nano-friction, first came to China for technical exchange in 2008 and has been in China for many academic seminars since then. 2019, he was invited to BIT as a special professor, dedicated to building a world-leading research platform in nano-friction.

After coming to the university, Prof. Sjeremacher has been actively engaged in research and academic work, and his innovative theories and disruptive application technologies have taken root at BIT. He has solved the problems of low service life and poor reliability of engine main bearings and is a real problem solver.

“I am very grateful for the great support from the university and the institute, I am very much adapted to life here and this has helped me a lot in my research career.” Professor Alexander Sjerimakh has given full play to his enthusiasm for scientific research at BIT, with fruitful research results, undertaking many international and domestic cooperation projects such as the Sino-Ukrainian Government Science and Technology Exchange and Cooperation Project, publishing three SCI high-level academic papers with BIT as the correspondent, authorizing three national utility model patents, four national invention patents, and one international PCT patent.

Prof. Alexander Sjeremacher attended the 2nd World Congress of Internal Combustion Engines with faculty and students

As a good teacher: building moral character

“I very much agree with the philosophy of governance at BIT, that as a researcher we should constantly explore the truth and pursue excellence. This is not only my own ideal, but I also want my students to aim for this.” Prof. Alexander Sjeremacher not only strives for excellence in his research work but also in his teaching work. He is committed to the development of moral values and teaches his research results to future generations without reservation.

He insists on offering the course “Tribology” for undergraduate students, 48 hours per academic year. He always strives for excellence in every class, constantly refining the course program, combining real-life scientific phenomena with theory, and speaking to students in an interesting way. After class, he will answer questions patiently and communicate with students fully, and the satisfaction rate of students in the course is up to 100%. Since he has been teaching at BIT, he has supervised and trained 3 young teachers, 6 doctoral students, and 10 master students, and supervised 4 undergraduate students’ graduation designs.

Prof. Alexander Sjeremacher teaches the course Tribology

As a beneficial friend: Building a bridge of friendship

In addition to his dedication to research and teaching, Prof. Alexander Sjerimakh also actively builds bridges of exchange and cooperation between BIT and his hometown, helping to introduce talents to BIT and international exchange. In the past three years, he has facilitated a number of university-level scientific cooperation between BIT and the National Aviation University of Ukraine, the Khmelnytskyi National University of Ukraine, and the Taras Shevchenko National University of Kyiv Ukraine.

“The Chinese people have the traditional virtue of ‘helping people and helping those in need’, and after coming to China, I have gained a lot of warmth and want to provide help to people around me in any way I can.” In his daily life, Professor Alexander Sjeremacher often uses his salary to help colleagues and students around him. 2020, at the beginning of the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic, he insisted on returning to China to continue to promote the construction of the research platform and brought a large number of medical supplies from his hometown to help win the battle against the epidemic. 2021, he was received by Premier Li Keqiang and invited to attend the conference celebrating the 100th anniversary of the founding of the Communist Party of China. In 2022, Prof. Alexander Sjeremacher received the Chinese Government Friendship Award.

Prof. Alexander Sjeremacher attended the Chinese New Year meeting of foreign experts in China in 2021

The strategy, “to make university strong by talents” will be implemented to create a good ecology of "attracting and retaining talents" and to provide a strong impetus for the university to enter a new stage of high-quality development

As 2022 is the year of the 20th Party Congress and the key year of implementing the 14th Five-Year Plan, the Propaganda Department of the Party Committee has launched a special report entitled “Welcoming the 20th Congress, Striving for a New Journey” to comprehensively show the achievements of the university in strengthening the leadership of the Party. It will tell the story of the struggle of the people of BIT, and widely gather the majestic power for the development of the university, so as to greet the 20th National Congress with excellent achievements.

The column of “Glory of BIT”, as a sub-topic of “Welcoming the 20th National Congress, Striving for a New Journey”, will focus on outstanding achievements in talent cultivation, science and technology innovation, social services, etc., and carry out diversified, multi-faceted and multi-level publicity reports to show the multi-dimensional achievements of first-class university construction.