On the afternoon of March 15, a meeting between CCNU leaders and a delegation from Australian Embassy, China was held at Shaw International Conference Center. The delegation, including Katherine Vickers, Minister Counselor of the Australian Embassy, China and Lei Xiaofeng, Senior director of Education Office of the Australia Embassy, China, was warmly received by CCNU President Yang Zongkai. Present at the meeting were also Mr. Zhang Yichuan, Deputy Minister of Department of International Cooperation and Exchange, Mr. Yu Xinguo, Dean of Central China Normal University Wollongong Joint Institute and Ms. Wang Shengxia, the Project Commissioner of Department of International Cooperation and Exchange.
At the beginning, a welcome speech was delivered by President Yang Zongkai. He expressed sincere greetings to the Minister Counselor and the Senior Director, and then introduced the comprehensive edges of CCNU, including the long history and the remarkable achievements in the fields of academy, scientific research and CCNU’s development strategy of “internationalization, informationization, and construction of high-level university” in particular. He then mentioned that CCNU had been establishing cooperation with many universities worldwide and especially some from Australia such as RMIT. He highlighted the joint research program between UOW and CCNU meant to further the educational communication and international cooperation. “I believe that collaboration mechanism on academic exchanges and joint talents training programs such as Wollongong Joint Institute will cultivate more and more outstanding students, who will make great contribution to the academic and economic development of two countries.” President Yang pointed.
Later, Ms. Katherine Vickers focused her talk on academic programs and platforms established between CCNU and Australian universities. She firstly expressed her great thanks to the greetings and then further expounded on concrete cooperative details. She complimented on the joint programs between CCNU and Australian universities meant to foster the effective and reciprocal cooperation between two sides. She then responded to the polite proposal by President Yang about the opportunities for Chinese students in the joint programs to get internship and confirmed that these opportunities could be ensured as long as they would have been verified. She also delivered her concerns and expectations to the joint program. “It’s becoming much more difficult for universities to strengthen setting programs up and I hope you can work in time to grow it.” Ms. Katherine Vickers commented. Afterwards, she showed her sincere willingness to form a partnership between CCNU and Australian universities in the long run.
After the two speeches above, leaders from both sides had detailed discussions on intercollegiate exchanges and cooperation, which included student exchange, international master and undergraduate degree programs and the scholarship provided for international students. Ms. Katherine Vickers asked for more information about “Wollongong Joint Institute” and commended on the innovation of the program. She also claimed that they would work with the education institute to make the research programs advance smoothly. She believed that the programs would function better in the near future. Genuinely both sides expressed their expectations for cultural and academic collaborations in the coming years.
Finally, CCNU President Yang Zongkai expressed his gratitude to their arrival again and exchanged gifts with the Katherine Vickers, Minister Counselor of the Australia Embassy, China. With happiness, leaders of both sides took a group photo.
