September 26, 2017

International visit strengthens Zhengzhou University relationship

Research partnership to continue following MoU renewal. 

A senior delegation from Zhengzhou University (ZZU) in China were recently welcomed to UOW to renew a longstanding partnership between the two universities.

Collaborations between the two institutions began in 2004 with three Chinese Ministry of Education approved undergraduate teaching programs in Engineering, with senior academic staff from UOW teaching into the programs.

The twinning programs have been considered a good practice example by the Ministry, with employment rates of participating students well above the national average.

On Monday 25 September, Chairman of the Zhengzhou University Council, Professor Shucheng Niu, met with UOW Vice-Chancellor Professor Paul Wellings CBE to sign a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) that will continue the relationship for a further five years. UOW Deputy Vice-Chancellor Professor Joe Chicharo welcomed the delegation for the strategic partnership.

Under the terms of the MOU, both parties will continue to undertake academic visits, conduct joint teaching programs, collaborate in research areas of common interest, exchange academic materials and information, and participate in joint international activities such as conferences and seminars. The MOU also includes an appendix of Collaborative PhD Program, which allows the two universities to select outstanding candidates from ZZU to undertake a PhD degree of UOW.

Professor Wellings said he looked forward to continuing collaborations between the two institutions.

“The collaborative PhD program provides great opportunities for research coming out of both universities,” he said.

“We have seen great success over the past 13 years with the engineering twinning programs and over 300 high quality students from Zhengzhou have flowed into coursework and research degrees here at UOW.

“I look forward to seeing what positive results we can achieve together over the next five years, with the collaboration expanding to broader disciplines.”

During their visit the Chinese delegation also met with staff from the Faculty of Engineering and Information Sciences, the Faculty of Business and the Centre for Medical and Molecular Bioscience.

Zhengzhou University launched an alumni chapter in Australia on Sunday 24 September, attended by Wollongong Lord Mayor Gordon Bradbery OAM and representatives from UOW and the Consulate General of the People’s Republic of China in Sydney.