TJU President Visits France

From November 12 to 17, Tianjin University (TJU) President Li Jiajun and his delegation visited IESEG (Institut d'?conomie Scientifique et de Gestion) School of Management of the?coles Nationales Supérieures d'IngénieursBourges (ENSIB), and the Ecole Nationale d'Ingénieurs du Val de Loire (ENIVL), both in France.

At IESEG School of Management, they were welcomed by Stephen Murdoch, IESEG’s Associate Dean. They held talks concerning study-abroad programs, and international accreditation for the discipline of economic management. They also discussed TJU’s history and teaching philosophy as well as its leading disciplines. During the meeting, they signed a Memorandum of Understanding and an Agreement for Student Exchanges.

IESEGSchool of Management is ranked among the top business schools in France. The school has received its accreditation from the European Quality Improvement System (EQUIS). It’s the first business school in France with a 5-year program taught in English that has achieved this highest standard of international management education. It is also a member of the Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business (AACSB) and the European Foundation for Management Development (EFMD).

On November 14, the delegation called on Jean-Pierre Saulnier, Vice President of the Conseil Général of the Cher Department (where the city of Bourges is located). They held discussions dealing with in-depth collaborations in areas of higher education and research. Vice President Saulnier mentioned that Cher and several provinces of China had already developed cooperative relationships in education, culture and economics. He hoped that such collaboration could be extended to Tianjin and TJU. President Li also hoped that cooperation between Cher and Tianjin could be supported through that of ENSIB and TJU.

On November 15, the delegation visitedENSIB and was warmly received by its Director Joel Allain. They held an in-depth discussion concerning student and faculty exchanges as well as joint research. President Li presented TJU’s strongest disciplines. He also emphasized the importance of taking a global perspective and providing international experience to TJU faculty and students. Afterwards, both sides signed a Memorandum on Student Exchanges and a Cooperation Agreement for a Dual-Diploma Program. To facilitate the implementation of these agreements, they hoped that the programs of electrical engineering and automation, mechanical engineering and computer software could be associated with training mechanisms as soon as possible.

ENSIB is a member of theConference of French Engineering Schools(CDEFI),and theConference of Graduate Schools(CGE). It attaches great importance to international cooperation.Its Director Joel Allain has visited TJU in April and October this year. In October, ENSIB and TJU signed a Memorandum of Understanding concerning Academic Cooperation.

On November 16, the delegation visited ENIVL and was welcomed by its Director Romuald Bone. He presented an overview of ENIVL and its strongest disciplines. President Li briefed him on TJU’s leading disciplines, its research funds and its international cooperative relationships. Both leaders agreed that colleges and professors play vital roles in maintaining cooperation between universities. And they hoped to establish further substantial collaborations involving staff exchanges and joint research. During the meeting, both sides signed a Memorandum of Understanding concerning Academic Cooperation and a Memorandum about Student Exchanges. They hoped to develop student exchange programs. They also hoped to develop cooperation with the China Scholarship Council (CSC) program to deal with the joint training of PhD students.

Established in 1962, ENIVL is a state college that offers a five-year multi-disciplinary engineering degree. Its distinguished programs include electrical engineering and information technology, mechanical engineering, mechatronics and industrial system management. Its Director Romuald Bone visited TJU in April of this year.