TJU Visits Australia, New Zealand and Singapore with Tianjin Delegation

From February 19 to 28, 2013, Tianjin University (TJU) President Li Jiajun took part in a Tianjin municipal delegation, led by Ms. Zhu Liping, Member of the Standing Committee of Tianjin Municipal Committee and Party Secretary of Education Working Committee of Tianjin Municipal Committee. The Tianjin delegation visited universities in Australia, New Zealand, and Singapore, and reached consensus in broadening and deepening cooperation with the universities.

On February 20, the Tianjin delegation visited Australia. At the University of Sydney, Professor Kerry Brown, Executive Director of China Studies Center, welcomed the delegation. During the meeting, representatives from the University of Sydney hoped to further promote their previous cooperation with TJU and other universities in Tianjin. Ms. Zhu said that the University of Sydney, a world renowned university, and Tianjin, a city with 19 universities and over 30 vocational schools, enjoy a solid foundation for cooperation. Tianjin, the third pole of economic growth in China, had maintained a solid momentum in development of education. She hoped the University of Sydney and Tianjin could continue and deepen their cooperation in the fields of research and leadership training. President Li gave a presentation on TJU, including its history, disciplinary strength, and outstanding performance in the 2012 national discipline assessment by the Ministry of Education of China. He also hoped that the University of Sydney and TJU could deepen their existing partnerships. The representatives from the University of Sydney responded very positively towards this hope and put forward proposals for programs.

On February 21, the Tianjin delegation attended the launching ceremony of the China-Australia Center for Sustainable Urban Development Symposium in Adelaide. Mr. Nigel Relph hosted the launch. Attendees from Australia also included Rear Admiral Kevin Scarce, Governor of South Australia, the Honorable Jay Weatherill, Premier of South Australia, the Right Honorable Stephen Yarwood, Lord Mayor of Adelaide, Mr. Ian Gould, Chancellor of the University of South Australia, and Professor David Lloyd, Vice Chancellor and President of the University of South Australia. Chinese representatives included Ms. Zhu Liping, Professor Li Zhongshang, Minister Counsellor of Chinese Embassy in Australia, TJU President Li Jiajun, Mr. Sun Zhiliang, Deputy Director General of Tianjin Municipal Education Commission, Mr. Qi Zhongbo, Director of General Office at Tianjin Municipal Science and Technology Commission, and representatives from different schools and offices of TJU.

Opening the event, Professor David Lloyd hoped that the joint Center would harvest fruitful results. Over the next four years, the University of South Australia would provide one million Australian dollars to develop advanced research and expertise in sustainable urban development. President Li Jiajun said the founding of the Center would deepen the friendship between the two universities. “The Center will reinforce exchange and cooperation in student training, scientific research and outreach, and promote synergy in problem solving,” He said. His talk was warmly applauded when he mentioned that TJU would match the funding.

Mayor Right Honorable Yarwood, Director Qi, Premier Honorable Weatherill, and Party Secretary Zhu also expressed their congratulations to the Center. TJU representatives delivered speeches at the subsequent workshop. The speakers included Professor Chen Guanyi, Dean of the School of Environment Science and Engineering and TJU Director of the China-Australia Center for Sustainable Urban Development , Professor Zhu Li from the School of Architecture, and Professor Tan Xin from the School of Environment Science and Engineering. The event attracted approximately 200 participants. The establishment of the Center is an important measure for implementing TJU’s internationalization strategy. It will bring mutual benefits being a platform for long-term strategic partnership and facilitate the two universities’ talent training and disciplinary development. It also provided Tianjin with a new model of high-level international cooperation.

On February 22, the TJU delegation led by President Li held a Tianjin University Day themed research and academic exchange at the University of South Australia. Twenty-one TJU representatives participated in the event. President Li delivered an overview of TJU while other TJU representatives also introduced their schools and research interests. Afterwards, TJU representatives held a discussion with the attendees from the University of South Australia. In honor of Tianjin University Day, Vice Chancellor and President Lloyd and President Li planted a crab apple tree to symbolize lasting collaboration and friendship between the two universities. Through the display of teaching and research strength of TJU’s relevant schools, this event further enhanced TJU’s reputation and provided the platform of academic exchange among professors and scholars of the two universities.

On February 25, the Tianjin delegation visited New Zealand. At the University of Canterbury, Vice-Chancellor Rod Carr met with the delegation. Party Secretary Zhu greatly appreciated the cooperation between the University of Canterbury and TJU, and presented an overview of Tianjin social economy and higher education. Both leaders hoped to deepen the cooperation between the University of Canterbury and Tianjin. Mr. Tan Xiutian, Consul-general of China in Christchurch, New Zealand, also attended the meeting.

Afterwards, the Tianjin delegation held talks with representatives from relevant colleges and schools, and visited their laboratories. The delegation also met with TJU students at the University of Canterbury. Party Secretary Zhu and President Li showed concern about the students’ studies and everyday life there. They also encouraged the students to study hard and gave detailed answers to their questions.

At the University of Auckland on February 26, Vice-Chancellor Stuart McCutcheon welcomed the delegation. They recalled the cooperation between the university and Tianjin, and agreed to further deepen their cooperation and exchange. After the meeting, the delegation also held in-depth discussions with representatives from related faculties and departments concerning joint research and student training.

On February 27, the Tianjin delegation visited Nanyang Technological University in Singapore. President Bertil Andersson, Vice Presidents Er Meng Hwa and Stephen Smith met with the delegation. During the meeting, they agreed to develop cooperation relating to student training, and held a detailed discussion on the cooperation of joint education on graduate level at the Sino-Singapore Tianjin Eco-city, and joint research in the field of water resources.

This visit by the Tianjin delegation laid a solid foundation for TJU’s all-round cooperation with Australia, New Zealand, and Singapore. It also enhanced TJU’s growth in popularity overseas and implementation of its internationalization strategy.