TU Delegation Visits France and Turkey

From September 11 to 18, 2013, a Tianjin University (TU) delegation, led by President Li Jiajun, visited China’s ambassador to the UNESCO mission, Education Section of the Embassy of the People’s Republic of China in France, the UNESCO World Heritage Centre, the Ecole Nationale Superieure D’architecture et de Paysage de Bordeaux, and Bogazici University in Turkey.

During their stay in France, the delegation paid visits to China’s diplomatic corps to the UNESCO mission, Education Section of the Embassy of the People’s Republic of China in France and the UNESCO World Heritage Centre on the issue of historical building preservation. You Shaozhong, Chinese Ambassador and Representative to UNESCO, Zhou Jiagui, Deputy Representative, Ma Yansheng, Minister Counselor of Education Section, Embassy of China in France, and Kishore Rao, Director of the World Heritage Centre met with the delegation. President Li introduced the comparative advantage and accomplishments Tianjin University has had in the field of historical building preservation, and expressed his willingness to cooperate with well-regarded international institutes or organizations. All parties gave plaudits to the achievements of Tianjin University, and provided valuable advice on how to carry out international cooperation in the field of heritage preservation of ancient buildings.

The World Heritage Centre of UNESCO is designated by UNESCO to help contracting parties in implementing the World Heritage Convention and offers suggestions to the World Heritage Committee so as to carry out its mission.

Besides, the delegation also visited the Ecole Nationale Superieure D’architecture et de Paysage de Bordeaux. Martin Chenot, Rector of the Ecole Nationale Superieure D’architecture et de Paysage de Bordeaux met with the delegation, accompanied by Jeanne-France Ruan, Vice Rector of the Ecole Nationale Superieure D’architecture et de Paysage de Bordeaux, and Florence, Rector of Bordeaux Language School. The French side introduced related information of each college to the delegation, and reviewed the progress of student exchange in the field of architecture. Rector Chenot spoke highly of the students TU had sent to Ecole Nationale Superieure D’architecture et de Paysage de Bordeaux. During the visit, President Li held discussions with 11 TU exchange students. He encouraged all the students to take the opportunity to study hard to learn French well , and also try to broaden their international vision. Later, all the students spoke of their life in French to demonstrate their improvement in French learning. Ecole Nationale Superieure D’architecture et de Paysage de Bordeaux could be traced back to the year 1877, and was formally established in 1968 while currently being ranked as the No.2 school of Landscape in France. In October of 2012, the School of Architecture at TU signed an undergraduate exchange agreement with Bogazici University.

During the stay in Turkey, the delegation visited Bogazici University. Professor Ali Teckcan, Provost of Bogazici University, Professor Taner Bilgic, Vice-Provost of Bogazici University and representatives from the office of international cooperation met with the delegation. Provost Teckcan extended a welcome to the delegation and gave an introduction on the history, educational characteristics, and international cooperation of the university to the delegation. President Li showed his appreciation for the hospitality to Bogazici University and gave an overview of TU’s history and achievements in the past years. Both parties agreed that the two universities had much in common in the disciplines offered and reached a preliminary consensus on staff and student exchange. On behalf of TU, President Li signed a Memorandum of Understanding with Bogazici University.

Bogazici University is one of the most famous universities in Turkey. Founded in 1863, it is the first American higher education institution founded outside the United States, with strong ties to the American educational system through Robert College. In 1971, it was transferred to the Turkish government and named Bogazici University. Bogazici University has Faculty of Arts and Sciences, Faculty of Economics and Administrative Sciences, Faculty of Education, Faculty of Engineering, a School of Foreign Languages, etc. The disciplines in the Faculty of Engineering include Chemical Engineering, Civil Engineering, Electrical and Electronic Engineering, Computer Engineering, Industrial Engineering and Mechanical Engineering.