From May 25 to June 1, President Sha Aimin led a delegation to University College Dublin in Ireland, University of Birmingham and Aston University in the UK. During the visits, in-depth views were exchanged on further promoting Sino-foreign cooperative education, international scientific research collaboration and platform building, and expansion of bilateral cooperation in various fields.
At University College Dublin, President Sha Aimin met with President Orla Feely and Vice President Dolores O’Riordan. Both sides highly recognized the productive cooperation between the two universities. And they held an active consultation and arrived at a preliminary agreement on the addition of undergraduate programs in Sino-foreign cooperative education, the establishment of international joint laboratories, the strengthening of scientific research collaboration and teacher exchange visits, and the exploration of Sino-foreign cooperative education at the postgraduate level. During the meeting with Vice President Tasman Crowe, the two sides discussed sustainable development in education and teaching, scientific research as well as campus development. President Sha Aimin then went to visit the teaching and research laboratories of UCD School of Civil Engineering, School of Architecture, Planning and Environmental Policy, and School of Mechanical and Materials Engineering; and he had profound communications with the heads of the schools mentioned above.
The Visit to University College Dublin, Ireland
On May 27, President Sha Aimin attended the talks between the delegation of Shaanxi Provincial Government led by Wang Xiao, Executive Vice Governor of Shaanxi Province, and University College Dublin. Highly affirming the cooperation achievements of the two universities, Wang Xiao said that he would fully support the deepening of the joint talent training and scientific research collaboration and facilitate the building of a platform for international scientific and technological cooperation through mutual efforts.
During his stay in Britain, President Sha Aimin visited University of Birmingham and Aston University. While meeting with Nick Vaughan-Williams, Vice-Chancellor of University of Birmingham, the two parties explored the cooperation matters like exchange visits of teachers and students, the “2+2” Student Exchange Program, scientific research as well as academic conferences. They further discussed the specific contents of the renewal of their cooperation agreement. And the delegation visited Birmingham Business School, the School of Engineering and the UK Rail Research and Innovation Network (UKRRIN). In Aston University, President Sha Aimin paid a visit to the College of Engineering and Physical Sciences and some relevant specialized laboratories, after which they had a detailed discussion on their bilateral cooperation.
During the visits to Dublin, Ireland and Birmingham, UK, the delegation held recruitment talks to introduce the policies of Chang’an University to attract overseas talents and to answer relevant questions, which drew the attention of a number of overseas scholars.
President Sha Aimin also called on some of the alumni studying and working in Ireland and the UK. He expressed thankfulness to them for their concern and help to the Alma mater. He also said that Chang’an University would actively advance the establishment of overseas alumni associations and support the development of alumni as always.
