Delegation from University of Edinburgh Visited Tianjin University

On Nov. 23rd, 2007, a delegation from University of Edinburgh composed of Prof. Asif Usmani, School of Engineering and Electronics, Prof. Igor Goryanin, Director of the Edinburgh Centre for Bioinformatics, Prof. Colin Adams, School of Informatics and Dr. Nini Yang, Director of International Liaison Office (China) visited Tianjin University for further discussion of collaboration between the two universities. President GONG Ke met the guests in his office. Prof. ZHANG Chunting, Academician of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Prof. YUAN Yingjin, Dean of School of Chemical Engineering and Prof. YANG Fuling, Director of International Cooperation Office, etc. attended the meeting. President GONG Ke extended warm welcome to the guests and gave a brief introduction to Tianjin University. He hoped that, through this visit, the collaboration between the two universities in terms of student & faculty exchange and joint research in relevant areas could be further promoted. During the visit, Prof. Igor Goryanin was entitled visiting professor of Tianjin University. Meanwhile, Edinburgh -Tianjin Joint Research Centre for Systems Biology and Synthetic Biology (ETSSB) was inaugurated. From Nov. 26th to 27th, Prof. Asif Usmani visited several schools & departments of Tianjin University, including School of Electrical Engineering and Automation, Tianjin Geothermal Research and Training Center, School of Mechanical Engineering, School of Civil Engineering, and Department of Law, School of Social Sciences and Foreign Languages. During the meetings with TU faculty and students, the two sides briefed each university and relevant schools & departments, and discussed the cooperation possibilities in terms of “2+2” undergraduate program, “1+1”joint MSc program, and “1+3” (MSc + Doctoral) program, as well as staff exchanges, joint seminars or workshops and joint research projects. During his visit, Prof. Usmani visited Tianjin University Archives and some labs in related schools, and also delivered a presentation on “Fire induced Collapse of Tall Buildings”. Founded in 1583, the University of Edinburgh with more than 18,000 students, is the largest university in Scotland, and also one of Scotland’s “ancient” Universities. There are three colleges, i.e. College of Humanities and Social Science, College of Medicine and Veterinary Medicine, and College of Science and Engineering.