UESTC started its international academic exchange as early as in 1956 when it was founded. 9 Russian experts worked and guided the graduates for 4 years, and 87 experts came for a short-term visit. Meanwhile some promising teachers were sent to Russia for further training. Since 1978, following the opening-up and reform policy and the strategy of “ Education must meet the challenge of modernization, the world advancement, and future.” UESTC has been involved in the interaction with overseas universities and institutes and remarkable results have been achieved with the ever-increasing international cooperation and exchange activities.

Up to now, lots of academic groups and scholars from 300 institutions, research organizations and famous enterprises of over 24 regions and foreign countries came to visit UESTC. About 100 scholars have been appointed honorary professors or guest professors and 100 professionals invited to work here as long- term experts and teachers. 130 international students came to UESTC for their long-term or short-term training. Besides, UESTC has organized and hosted 36 international conferences and three seminars which has built UESTC a reputation in the world. On the other hand, 500 faculty members supported by the state subsidy and another 60 supported by the scholarship from overseas institutions were sent abroad for their further training or degree–programs study. Among them, 500 returned to UESTC and are now work on the campus as the backbone in teaching and research. Besides,1000 faculty members went abroad for short-term academic activities including participating conferences, doing survey and co-research. Many years’ international exchange has brought UESTC to the world. In 1996, UESTC was accepted as a member of World Association of Universities.

So far, UESTC has signed cooperation agreements with over 40 well-known universities and institutes. Benefited from the international exchange and cooperation, UESTC has achieved breakthrough in the fields of Klystron, Plasma technology, Microwave, electronic materials, computer and software. Furthermore UESTC has built close ties with some famous enterprises including IBM, Motorola, Intel, HP, TI, Epson, Samsung, and etc. And the donations and financial aids offered by these companies have reached a total of over $4 million, which greatly supported the teaching and research as well as the establishment of labs for co-training programs.