A delegation led by Chen Guoqiang, member of the Standing Committee of YSU Committee of CPC and YSU Vice President, visited New Zealand, Australia and Singapore from March 19 to March 28, 2024 at the invitation of 10 universities including University of Waikato (New Zealand), Curtin University (Australia) and Nanyang Technological University (Singapore). A friendly cooperation agreement was signed with Singapore University of Technology and Design and discussions and exchanges were carried out with the above universities on Chinese-foreign cooperation in joint education, cultivation of international talents, international training of teachers, and international scientific research cooperation. Members of the delegation include leaders from YSU Office of International Cooperation, School of Economics and Management, School of International Education, and YSU Asset Management Co., Ltd. (International Education and Exchange Center).
In New Zealand, the delegation visited the University of Waikato and Massey University. The delegation was warmly received by the Deputy Vice Chancellor of the University of Waikato and the heads of relevant departments. The two parties conducted in-depth discussions on the prospects of the cooperation agreement signed earlier on the 1+3 project for undergraduate students and reached a consensus on the implementation plan. YSU International Education and Exchange Center will be responsible for all matters related to the project implementation. The two parties also had in-depth discussions on matters related to the exchange visits of teachers and scientific research cooperation in specialized fields. At Massey University, the two parties conducted in-depth discussions on the implementation of inter-university exchange programs for teachers and students, scientific research and academic research projects, and the Chinese Government Scholarship program. Focused discussions were carried out on the 3+1 and 2+2 joint education programs for undergraduate students in Economics and Management as well as the 3+1+1 master degree program for undergraduate students.
In Australia, the delegation visited Curtin University and held a preparatory meeting for the annual meeting of the joint management committee of the Chinese-foreign joint education program in Industrial Engineering and Electrical Engineering. Curtin University attached great importance to YSU's visit. The Provost, Deputy Vice Chancellor, International, and heads of the International Exchange Center, Faculty of Business and Law, and School of Electrical Engineering, Computing and Mathematical Sciences attended the meeting.
Curtin University and YSU have been sister universities for a long time. The two universities have been collaborating on the undergraduate program in Industrial Engineering and the postgraduate program in Electrical Engineering for 10 years. During the meeting, Chen Guoqiang fully recognized the foundation and achievements of the cooperation between the two universities, and expressed appreciation to Curtin University for its rigorous scholarship and friendly cooperation mechanism. He emphasized the four purposes of the delegation's visit to Curtin University: 1. To discuss matters related to the exhibition of talent cultivation achievements commemorating the 10th anniversary of the cooperation between the two universities as well as matters related to the annual meeting. 2. To explore ways to further broaden the scope of cooperation, especially in the joint education of master and doctoral students, and increase the cooperation efforts and talent education level.3. To explore the channels and forms of faculty exchange visits and research platform development, especially in the engineering fields where the two universities enjoy common advantages. 4. To verify the feasibility and specific actions for establishing a Chinese-foreign joint education institution.
The two parties conducted in-depth discussions on the above four topics, as well as the specific actions on the teaching quality control of the two current joint education programs, the featured model of international talent cultivation, the development of global competencies, and the introduction of high-quality education and teaching resources from each other. As agreed by the two parties, YSU will host the celebration of the 10th anniversary of the cooperation between the two universities and the exhibition of talent cultivation achievements in November this year.
After the meeting, Chen Guoqiang and the delegation visited the undergraduate students in Industrial Engineering and the postgraduate students in Electrical Engineering studying at Curtin University and inquired about their study and life in detail. He fully recognized their learning attitude and hard-working spirit, and encouraged them to cherish the opportunity to broaden their horizons and study hard to prepare for their future development. He told the students to take care of their personal safety and health during their study abroad to free their families and the university from worrying about them. He extended his best wishes to the students, hoping they would have more opportunities to continue their studies at high-level universities and serve the country after completing their studies.
In Australia, the delegation visited more universities including the University of Western Australia and Macquarie University where in-depth discussions were carried out on joint programs of undergraduate direct admission and postgraduate education, international student sources, and academic exchange and research practice projects in Australia for postgraduate students during winter and summer vacations.
Singapore was the last stop of the visit, where the delegation visited Nanyang Technological University (NTU), Singapore University of Technology and Design (SUTD), and Newcastle University in Singapore. At NTU, the two parties conducted in-depth discussions on YSU faculty team going to NTU in the summer vacation to carry out academic research and pedagogical training, and confirmed the details of the mutual recognition of credits and education plans for the undergraduate student exchange program. At SUTD, the vice presidents of the two universities signed a friendly cooperation agreement on behalf of the universities and carried out in-depth exchanges on YSU students studying master degree programs at SUTD and the joint education of students. At Newcastle University in Singapore, the two parties summarized the completed academic training for the faculty team and conducted in-depth discussions on carrying out scientific research cooperation and exchanges, as well as the 1+1+1 master degree program for undergraduate students in Economics and Management.
The delegation has achieved fruitful results from its visit to 10 universities in 3 countries, which will further improve YSU's international education level and promote the construction of a world-class university and world-class disciplines. After returning from the trip, the relevant schools and departments will take this opportunity to build on the existing cooperation achievements, realize the cooperation intentions reached during the visit, further expand the university's international cooperation scope, and promote the internationalization of talent cultivation and scientific research to a new level.
