On the occasion of the 175th anniversary of the University of Mons, Belgium, the honorary doctorate awarding ceremony was held on November 22.

In light of his academic achievements and contributions in deep rock mechanics experiments and theories, professor HE Manchao, Director of National Key Laboratory of Deep Rock and Soil Mechanics and Underground Engineering, CUMT-Beijing, was awarded honorary doctorate degree by Professor Calogero CONTI, President of the University of Mons. Prof. HE was by far the first Chinese scholar who had ever been granted to this honor.

As a comprehensive university with long history, the University of Mons is one of the oldest mining institutes in Europe. Since the establishment of the honorary doctorate degree, 30 scientists and engineers with outstanding contributions to the world science and technology and engineering fields have been granted to this honor by the University.