From the Chancellery
by Peter Høj
Vice-Chancellor and President
Strengthening our collaborations in China
I have recently returned from a trip to Beijing, where I met with
senior representatives from key educational institutions in order to
further our research collaborations in China. It was my first visit
since May of 2006, when I met Premier Wen Jiabao and spoke at the
20th anniversary celebrations of the National Natural Science
Foundation of China. Once again I was struck by the energy and pace
of the developments taking place in Beijing, which was reflected in
the many educational and research organisations we visited.
Beijing’s physical development in the lead up to last year’s Olympics has been well documented and the new infrastructure is, indeed, impressive. More significant, however, is the accompanying confidence and ambitious can-do attitude exhibited by the Chinese.
Our international partners acknowledge the benefits of engaging with overseas universities in the quest to meet their advanced educational ideals. As a country of 1.3 billion people with an economy that is growing at more than seven per cent a year, China has an insatiable appetite for knowledge. Equally, our partners recognise the growing importance of their own contribution to global research and the value that they, in turn, offer their Western counterparts.
UniSA’s focus in China has been to form strategic alliances that have synergy with our own goals and values. A good example of this has been our relationship with Tianjin University, the first educational institution of higher learning in China (established in 1895) and now a National Key University directly under the administration of the Ministry of Education.
Last year a delegation from our Ian Wark Research Institute (The Wark™) visited Tianjin to discuss a whole-of-life relationship, including collaborative research proposals, staff and student exchanges, joint postdoctoral fellowships, joint laboratories, and joint PhD programs. Five Tianjin graduates have already completed PhD programs at The Wark™, seven are currently enrolled, and we are looking forward to more joining us soon.
Our recent trip allowed us to build on the Tianjin relationship and explore new collaborations with the prestigious Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS). We held important discussions with the CAS Institute for Computing Technology about working together in emerging areas such as bio-informatics, human-computer interface and virtual reality. We also discussed future collaborations with researchers from the Research Centre for Eco-Environmental Sciences, with whom our staff have already co-authored several papers.
UniSA also works closely with Australian Education International in China, and this relationship continues to keep us abreast of important developments and opportunities. The good news is that the Australian share of the Chinese market has risen this year. The cautionary note is that other countries are also increasing their presence, and Australian institutions cannot rest on their laurels. At UniSA we are working on improving both our course offerings and our student support services, as we are deeply committed to optimising the educational and social experience of our overseas students.
I am confident that our reputation in China has never been stronger. We certainly could not have received a warmer welcome from our partners, alumni and friends. It was a stimulating visit that marked a positive step forward in our international educational relationships and research growth. I wish to thank all the staff at UniSA who have helped establish our strong and prosperous relationships with prestigious institutions worldwide.