30 July 2007
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Professor Chen Guoqiang (left) with Professor Don Nutbeam, the Provost of Sydney University. |
Medical researchers from Sydney will take part in a joint research symposium in China next year as part of a closer agreement with Shanghai Jiaotong University.
The collaboration follows a visit to Sydney by eight senior academic staff from Shanghai Jiaotong's School of Medicine.
Led by Professor Chen Guoqiang, Vice Dean of Medicine, the Chinese delegates discussed a wide range of collaborative ideas with Sydney in curriculum development, joint research, research fellowships, PhD sharing and student exchange. In recognition of their visit, 26 July has been designated as 'Shanghai Research Day'.
The first joint research symposium is expected to take place in Shanghai next May.
The topic will change each year and will focus on profiling the work being undertaken by young researchers from both universities. "We want this to become a regular fixture on the research calendar in both Shanghai and Sydney," said Louise Freckelton, Asia relations manager in the Faculties of Health.
Ms Freckelton said Sydney's relationship with its global partners was much more mature than 20 years ago, when there was a simple emphasis on attracting overseas students.
In that time the University had grown from an Australian university to a university with international students, and now, to an internationalised university, she said.
The relationship between the Faculty of Medicine and Shanghai Jiaotong has been developing for five years. Starting from a small joint research program, it has become one of the University's strongest links with China.
In a research presentation during the recent visit, five young Shanghai researchers showcased their work in tumour immunology, ovarian cancer, stem cell research, diabetes and leukaemia.
"The Sydney researchers were impressed with the quality of their work and many of our staff have already identified more potential joint projects," said Professor Nicholas King, head of Pathology and Chair of the Shanghai Research Day. "We have much to learn from each other's approaches including the use of traditional Chinese substances in intervening in chronic diseases such as diabetes."
Ms Freckelton added: "We are trying to reducing the language and cultural barriers with our global partners. There are few differences when we work together. A hunger for knowledge brings people together."
"Sydney needs to be an international university to maintain its prestige. Nowadays nobody can work alone without engaging with other parts of the world."
Contact: Claudia Liu
Phone: 02 9351 3191