TJU and the University of South Australia to Jointly Establish a China Australia Center for Sustainable Urban Development

On June 26, Vice President Shu Gequn met with a delegation from the University of South Australia headed by Pro Vice Chancellor & Vice President Nigel Relph. During the meeting, the two sides signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on the establishment of a China Australia Center for Sustainable Urban Development (CACSUD). According to the MoU, the two universities would work together to establish the China Australia Center, promote the exchange of staff and students, develop joint educational programs and facilitate joint research. Afterwards, the first meeting of the steering committee of CACSUD and an academic workshop were also held between the two sides. The representatives of the Office of Science & Technology, the Office of International Cooperation and relevant schools attended the event.

Vice President Shu indicated that the previous exchanges between the two universities had laid a solid foundation for further cooperation. He hoped that with the establishment of CACSUD, the two universities would commercialize the research achievements and train high-level talents through joint research in frontier fields. Pro Vice Chancellor & Vice President Relph expressed his belief that the center would further strengthen the partnership between the two universities.

At the first meeting of the steering committee, both sides held a detailed discussion on the operation and management mechanism of the committee and reached an agreement on the recent working plan of the center. The unveiling ceremonies of the center both in China and Australia were scheduled and an international academic conference was also agreed upon.

In the afternoon, an academic exchange on joint research was held between the delegation and the representatives of the Schools of Environmental Science and Engineering, Architecture, Materials Science and Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Civil Engineering, Precision Instrument and Optoelectronics Engineering, Education and the College of Management and Economics. Both sides exchanged views on their respective research, interests and projects. They agreed that joint research could be conducted in numerous fields of overlapped research. Based on the discussion on the research areas combined with the goal of the center, the steering committee would determine on recent research projects.

CACSUD is to establish a platform for the long-term strategic partnership between Tianjin University and the University of South Australia. With this platform, talent training, disciplinary construction and internationalization of the two universities will be promoted. It will also contribute to the urban environment and sustainable development of China and Australia.