Cooperation Agreement Signed between SDU and Durham University

On September 14th, a delegation led by Vice-Chancellor of Durham University Prof. Christopher Higgins and Pro-Vice Chancellors Andrew Deeks and Seth Kunin visited SDU and signed a cooperation agreement between the two universities. SDU President Xu Xianming met with the delegation. Vice-Presidents Zhang Yun and Lou Hongxiang also attended the meeting.

President Xu welcomed the delegation and introduced the history and present development of SDU and its featured research profiles in medicine, physics and humanities. President Xu acknowledged the significance of the visit. He said that with so many fields of cooperation and the signing of the cooperation agreement, the relation of the two universities would enter a new era. He hoped that September 14, on which the delegation visited SDU, would become Durham Day to promote close and fruitful cooperation. Prof. Higgins appreciated the hospitality and considerate reception of SDU. He expressed his wish that the two universities may initiate cooperation in students and teachers exchange and joint research. He invited President Xu to visit Durham University. Assistant President Jia Lei, executive deputy-director of the Academic Research Department Zhao Xian and the deputye-director Fang Hui and the director of the International Office Tong Guangwu attended the meeting.

After signing the agreement, Vice-President Zhang and Lou chaired respectively the meetings with Pro-Vice-Chancellor Kunin, and Deeks. Representatives of the Graduate School, the Academic Research Department, the School of Life Sciences, the School of Law Sciences, the Oriental Archaeology Research Center, the Institute of Crystal Materials, and the Center of Judaic and Inter-Religious Studies attended the talks. During the talk concerning humanities and social sciences, Prof. Qi Yanping of the School of Law Sciences, Prof. Fang Hui of the Oriental Archaeology Research Center, and Prof. Fu Youde of the Center for Judaic and Inter-Religious Studies introduced the studies of their schools and centers, and proposed cooperation. Pro-Vice-Chancellor Kunin introduced the humanity and social sciences studies of Durham University, and its advanced faculties such as history and the study of religion. He proposed that the two universities cooperate in Chinese teaching and research of Chinese art history. The two sides agreed to initiate cooperation in law sciences, history, archaeology, protection of cultural relics, Judaic study and philosophy through students and scholar exchanges and academic conferences. In the other talk Prof. Qu Yinbo of the School of Life Sciences and Prof. Huang Xingtao of the School of Physics introduced their research areas. The two sides discussed issues of future cooperation. Vice-President Lou also introduced SDU's cultivation of elite students in Taishan College and proposed cooperation between the college and Durham University.

During the stay, the delegation visited the State Key Laboratory of Microbial Technology(SKLMT), the State Key Laboratory of Crystal Materials(SKLCM),the College of International Education, the SDU-VT Joint Laboratory and the University Museum. Pro-Vice-Chancellor Deeks discussed with staff from schools concerning engineering about further cooperation models such as joint cultivation of students and doctoral students, mutual visiting of scholars, joint application for state funded projects and holding summer schools. Other members of the delegation were Rob Dixon, Dean of the Business School, Alessandra Guariglia, Head of the Department of Accounting & Finance and Head of the Department of Economics, Dr. Shamus Smith, Dr. Li Ran and Dr. David Sims-Williams of the School of Engineering and Computing Sciences. Divided into different groups according to their specialties, they visited the School of Economics, the School of Computer Science and Technology, the School of Energy & Power Engineering, the School of Electrical Engineering and the School of Mechanical Engineering to discuss issues concerning academic communication. In March, the delegation led by Pro-Vice Chancellor Deeks visited SDU to seek better understanding of several schools. SDU also sent representatives of the School of Law Sciences, the School of Economics, the School of Civil Engineering and the Institute of Crystal Materials to visit Durham University this June. The Department of Chemistry of Durham University and the Institute of Crystal Materials of SDU have established programs of joint cultivation of graduate students and mutual visiting of teachers. Cooperation in economics, law science and civil engineering has also been initiated.

Established in 1832, Durham is a university with the third longest history of all universities in England and has an excellent reputation. Advanced disciplines of this university are applied mathematics, archaeology, geography, theology and the study of religion. With 3,000 faculty and 15,000 students including 3,500 graduate students and 3,000 overseas students from 120 countries Durham University was ranked in fifth place of all the British universities by the Complete University Guide of the Independent.

By Cui Xinyuan