The China-Australia Center for Environmentally Sustainable Urban Development to be Established at TJU

On April 13, a delegation from the University of South Australia headed by Nigel Relph, Pro Vice Chancellor and Vice President of International and Development, and Andrew Parfitt, Pro Vice Chancellor and Vice President of the Division of Information Technology, Engineering and the Environment, visited Tianjin University (TJU) to discuss the establishment of the China-Australia Center for Environmentally Sustainable Urban Development (CACESUD). Vice President Feng Yaqing met with the guests. The representatives of related schools and offices also attended the meeting.

Vice President Feng hoped both sides could agree on the specifics of the joint establishment of the CACESUD based on the fruits of previous collaboration. On this platform, joint research into frontier fields, the commercialization of research findings and joint education programs are to be promoted. Pro Vice Chancellor and Vice President Relph recalled the cooperation between the two universities on student programs and joint research. He spoke highly of TJU students studying at the University of South Australia with the Australian Endeavour Awards. He also hoped for strengthening the ties through student exchange programs. According to Pro Vice Chancellor and Vice President Parfitt, substantial cooperation will be developed in the fields of environment, materials, chemical engineering and architecture on the platform of the CACESUD.

Further discussion mainly focused on the details of the cooperation on the building of the CACESUD. Both sides agreed to set up a steering committee and further discussed joint programs in education and research.

In the past few years, delegates of the University of South Australia have paid several visits to TJU, discussing the cooperation on student training, joint research and academic exchanges. In 2007, Professor John Ralston, a Fellow of both the Australian Academy of Science and the Australian Academy of Technological Science and Engineering and Director of the Ian Wark Research Institute of the University, was conferred Honorary Professorship of TJU. At present, one TJU student has successfully got his PhD degree from the University funded by the China Scholarship Council (CSC). Besides, four TJU undergraduates are currently studying at the University of South Australia with the Australian Endeavour Awards.