Prof. Zhongdong Wang, a noted alumnus of the Department of Electrical Engineering, Tsinghua University (THU), was appointed Pro-Vice Chancellor and Executive Dean at the University of Exeter’s College of Engineering Mathematics & Physical Sciences (CEMPS) in July 2020. At present, the College is at the forefront of research into some of the world’s greatest challenges—climate change, water security, materials and manufacture, and renewable energy. Professor Sir Steve Smith, Vice-Chancellor and Chief Executive of the University of Exeter, said from the bottom of his heart, “I am delighted to welcome Zhongdong to the University of Exeter, who brings a wealth of talent, knowledge and expertise that will be pivotal to the continued success of the College, and the University.”

Prof. Zhongdong Wang graduated from the Department of Electrical Engineering and Applied Electronic Technology (EEA), Tsinghua University, and received her bachelor's and master's degrees in 1991 and 1993 respectively. She then stayed in the university to teach and obtained his doctorate in electrical engineering from the University of Manchester in 1999. Before coming to Exeter, she is a professor at the Department of Electrical and electronic Engineering, University of Manchester and Associate Dean for Internationalisation in the Faculty of Science & Engineering. She is a famous scholar with a wealth of experience in the field of international power transformer. Her scientific research achievements have been internationally recognized in the electrical power engineering field. During her work at Manchester University, Wang has been awarded significant research funds by leading international companies, published 70 journal and 150 conference papers, and was elected as the UK Regular Member for the CIGRE Study Committee on Power Transformers. Her research interests include condition monitoring, aging mechanism of insulating materials, multi-physics modeling, and the development of a digital twinning for transformer asset management.

Pref. Wang has always kept close cooperation with Chinese institutes, and visits China frequently every year. She paid visits and gave lectures at Tsinghua University many times. Her China-EU Research and Innovation Partnership Program on Renewable Energy, Energy Efficiency and Urban Sustainable Development (IRES-8) was launched in April 2015 and concluded in December 2019. The Project, initiated by the European Union, aims to strengthen networking cooperation, partnership and other forms scientific research and innovation interaction between the EU and China. The program mainly supports doctoral students, postdoctoral students and scholars from European Universities to carry out high-level scientific research in Chinese universities and scientific research institutes, so as to establish and strengthen long-term strategic cooperation between EU scientific research community and Chinese research institutions and universities. University of Manchester is the host of the project. EU universities include Bologna University in Italy, Norwegian University of Science & Technology and University of Zagreb in Croatia. Chinese partners include Tsinghua University, North China Electric Power University, Beijing Jiaotong University and State Grid Smart Grid Research Institute.

University of Exeter, a world-class research university located in the southwest of the UK, is now a member of the Russell Group. It ranked in the top Ten of the UK for many times in the rankings published by such mainstream media as the Times, the Guardian and the Completer University Guide. At the same time, it ranks 163rd in 2020QS World University Rankings (UK), 146th in the Times Higher Education World University Rankings and 161st in the 2020 US News & World Report. The university, located in Exeter, the capital of Devon in the southwest of England, has beautiful campus environment called the most beautiful garden campus in England by the Times. It has a world-class research level in economics, accounting and finance, material technology, engineering technology, law, humanities and social sciences, medicines, anthropology and sports science. Famous alumni are J.K. Rowling, author of Harry Potter; Andrew Hamilton, former chancellor of Oxford University; and Zara Phillips, a member Royal family.