CUHK forges ties with Karolinska Institutet, Sweden

A three-member delegation led by Prof. Harriet Wallberg-Henriksson, President of Karolinska Institutet (KI) visited CUHK on 4 October 2012 to sign a collaboration agreement with the University. The two institutions have started a dialogue and identified priority areas for collaboration. The signing of the collaboration agreement sets forth a framework for the two institutions to engage in collaborative activities, including the exchange of faculty and research staff, the exchange of students, and research collaboration in regenerative medicine.

CUHK and Utrecht University sign a memorandum of understanding for PhD student exchange

Prof. Joseph Sung, Vice-Chancellor and President, and Prof. Jack Cheng, Pro-Vice-Chancellor, visited Utrecht University (UU) in the Netherlands on 23 October 2012 to explore opportunities for deeper collaboration in the areas of humanities, neuroscience, social science, and sustainability. UU has been identified as a strategic partner of CUHK. Over the years, the two universities have developed numerous collaborative programmes, including undergraduate student exchange, summer-to-summer exchange, and short-term faculty exchange. During the visit, Prof. Sung and Prof. Bert van der Zwaan, Rector Magnificus and Vice President of UU signed a memorandum of understanding for PhD student exchange, which allows the two universities to exchange two PhD students per year for short-term research attachments commencing in 2013-14.

CUHK-University of Bristol Faculty Exchange Programme 2012-13

The CUHK-University of Bristol (Bristol) Faculty Exchange Programme commenced with the first faculty member from Bristol, Prof. Timothy Gallagher, Head of the School of Chemistry, visited CUHK during 23 to 26 October 2012.

Prof. Timothy Gallagher was hosted by Prof. Tony Shing, Head of the Department of Chemistry at CUHK as they share common research interests in carbohydrate chemistry and the synthesis of bioactive nitrogen heterocycles, which form a basis for further collaboration. In addition, meetings with other faculty members in the Department of Chemistry were arranged to explore institutional projects that could be developed between CUHK and Bristol. To disseminate information about the research opportunities and strengths of Bristol's School of Chemistry, Prof. Gallagher delivered two seminars on 'Academia Initiatives and Experiences at Bristol' and 'Chemistry of Cytisine - Synthesis and Biological Aspects' to CUHK faculty and students during his visit.

Two faculty members from CUHK will visit Bristol in March 2013. They are Prof. Roger Chung, Research Assistant Professor, The Jockey Club School of Public Health and Primary Care, who will visit Bristol's Centre for the Study of Poverty and Social Justice, School for Policy Studies/Townsend Centre for International Poverty Research and Dr. Stephen Nagy, Assistant Professor, Department of Japanese Studies, who will visit Bristol's School of Sociology, Politics and International Studies.

CUHK participates in EAIE annual conference in Dublin, Ireland

Prof. Gordon Cheung, Associate Pro-Vice-Chancellor, Ms. Shally Fan, Director of Academic Links, and colleagues from the Office of Academic Links participated in the annual European Association for International Education (EAIE) Conference in Dublin, Ireland from 12 to 14 September 2012.

Prof. Gordon Cheung spoke in three workshops, respectively on 'Mobility between Asia and Europe: new trends and challenges', 'The Impact of the Global Financial Crisis on International Higher Education around the Globe', and 'What are the Future Paths for International Higher Education?'. In addition, OAL colleagues promoted the APAIE 2013 Conference and Exhibition which will be hosted by CUHK in Hong Kong to potential exhibitors and delegates.

EAIE is a non-profit organization dedicated to facilitating the internationalization of higher education in Europe and around the world and meeting the professional needs of individuals active in international education.

Updates on international academic developments

From Prof. Sian Griffiths, Director of the Jockey Club School of Public Health and Primary Care and Senior Advisor (International Academic Development)

Developing internationalism is one of the Vice-Chancellor's objectives and as part of this his Senior Advisors, of which I am one, play a role in facilitating the global profile of CUHK by networking with other academic institutions on behalf of the University. One of the most dynamic forums which CUHK joined last year is the Worldwide Universities Network (WUN), a network of 18 research-led universities that helps to build global research communities by supporting collaboration. WUN member universities cross all continents and new research groups get established through the support and resources available as well as through contacts and collaborative meetings. Four global challenges frame the main thrust of the work : Adapting to Climate Change, Global Higher Education and Research, Public Health (Non-Communicable Disease), and Understanding Cultures. Researchers at CUHK are actively connecting with counterparts in other universities on projects such as health and social policy for autism, the lifecourse approach to combating non communicable diseases, climate change, and education. More information is available on the WUN webpage under OAL's website at www.oal.cuhk.edu.hk/index.php/partnerships/worldwide-universities-network.

In addition to working with WUN, I have particular responsibility for working with the University of Oxford and the University of Cambridge. During September, the University of Oxford celebrated the opening of the graduate centre at Wadham College where the Mok family donated the funding for the library. I was fortunate to attend this event on behalf of CUHK as well as the Mok Hing Yiu Lecture by The Hon Stephen Lam, GBM, GBS, former Chief Secretary for Administration of the HKSAR government - a well-attended event in which the destiny of Hong Kong as China's Metropolis, Asia's World City was the theme. This lecture was held at St. Hugh's College where construction has just started on the new centre for research of China. The University of Oxford China Centre will feature the new University of Oxford China Centre Library as well as provide conference facilities, research space, teaching space and space for the display of Chinese artifacts. When our Vice-Chancellor, Prof. Joseph Sung, visited the University of Oxford last year, the seeds were sown for close collaboration between this new centre and CUHK's Chinese Studies initiative. To quote Mr. Andrew Dilnot, Chairman of the University of Oxford China Centre Fundraising Committee and Warden of Nuffield College, "The study of China in all its aspects, from ancient to modern, literary and artistic to scientific and environmental, political and economic to philosophical is hugely exciting and very important not just for this University but for the world". CUHK will have the opportunity to hear more next year when Mr. Dilnot visits CUHK to give lecture in the series of Mok Hing Yiu Lectures.