GDUFS Delegation Visited Universities in Australia and New Zealand

From December 11^th to 15^th, Vice President JIAO Fangtai led a delegation to GDUFS’s sister universities overseas: Massey University, Victoria University of Wellington, University of Technology Sydney and University of Wollongong. The 5-day trip was conducted in a bid to make closer the relationships between GDUFS and its overseas partners.

JIAO and Stephen Kelly jointly announced the inauguration of the research center for bilateral cooperation

On December 11^th, JIAO, along with several officials from GDUFS, visited Massey and carried out a dialogue with its representatives including Stephen Kelly, a senior lecturer in the School of Management, and Michael O'Shaughnessy, Director of the International Relations Office. Later, JIAO and Stephen Kelly jointly announced the inauguration of The Sustainability and Corporate Social Responsibility Research Hub: a platform provided for bilateral exchanges and cooperation in terms of, among other things, students, essays and seminars. Massey seconded the plan proposed by GDUFS and signed an accord on scientific research collaboration.

JIAO gave a gift to Julia Innocente-Jones as a token of friendship

The second day saw JIAO and his delegation call upon Victoria University of Wellington and receive a warm welcome by Julia Innocente-Jones, Assistant Vice-Chancellor (International) and other officials. The two parties discussed several postgraduate programs, which can be granted a certain amount of scholarship by Victoria. GDUFS aspires to launch a credit program next year, sending three to five students to study for one semester in Victoria, according to JIAO.

GDUFS delegation at Sydney Business School

On December 14^th, they made their way to University of Technology Sydney (UTS) and held talks with LIU Mian, Vice President of UTS, and Liz Treacy, Director of the International Office. UTS is one of Australia's most international universities dedicated to promoting exchange of students. Both parties reviewed their cooperation in the early period and hoped to continue to expand and facilitate mutual cooperation especially between the international schools and information schools of the two universities. Besides, GDUFS’s Business School will encourage their students to exchange and take on internships in the business school of UTS, which, located in the center of Sydney, works closely with local businesses.

Paul Wellings jollily received JIAO’s gift

On the last day of the short trip, JIAO and his delegation paid a visit to University of Wollongong (UW). UW’s President Paul Wellings, former President of Lancaster University and an old friend of GDUFS, warmly received our delegation with his colleagues despite his busy schedule. JIAO expressed his hope to promote the student exchanges among the two universities, shaping students to appreciate and learn from local cultures and to address complicated international issues. The two sides reached consensus on other projects like teacher visits and joint research. Since UW’s maritime law research is pioneering worldwide, both sides are set to enforce their collaboration on the research on the Pacific island countries. Other short-term undergraduate exchange programs were also put on the table, providing multiple choices for students of both universities.