HUST and Birmingham work on plans for joint research institute

A delegation of senior leaders from Huazhong University of Science and Technology (HUST) has visited the University of Birmingham to explore setting up a joint research institute.

Led by HUST Vice President Professor Jianguo CHEN, delegates from the Wuhan-based university visited Birmingham to discuss how a joint institute might benefit research collaboration in a broad range of subjects spanning from engineering and gravity research, to translational medicine and nursing.

University of Birmingham Provost and Vice-Principal Professor Tim Jones and Professor Chen signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to encourage education and research links between nursing departments at the two universities.

As well as research partnerships, the initiative could help to increase numbers of HUST undergraduate and postgraduate students studying at Birmingham on joint programmes and create opportunities for Birmingham students to study in Wuhan.

Professor Jon Frampton, Deputy Pro-Vice-Chancellor and Director of the University’s China Institute, said: “The University of Birmingham already enjoys a close collaboration with HUST and we believe that establishing a joint institute could lead to even more high-quality research that has an impact around the world.

“Our two universities already work well together on joint teaching programmes. Closer working will allow us to further improve education for students. We look forward to progressing our partnership and providing another exciting opportunity for our students and researchers to collaborate with peers from across the globe.”

The University’s College of Engineering and Physical Sciences already has undergraduate teaching collaborations with HUST, which has a long-standing reputation for attracting high-quality students from across the world. These involve Chinese students spending two years at each university.

Professor Jianguo CHEN also spoke highly of the partnership and friendship between the two institutions. He emphasised that, apart from the existing collaboration in education programmes, there is an even bigger potential for research collaboration.

He said: “This is the very first 'HUST Day' in the University of Birmingham, which leaves us with a very deep impression in so many aspects. It's a milestone event in our collaboration - both faculty and student exchange activities have enjoyed great success in the past few years, and I think our research collaboration also demonstrates tremendous potential in the future for the two universities.”

For more information, please contact: Tony Moran, International Communications Manager, on +44 121 414 8254 or +44 782 783 2312. For out-of-hours enquiries, please call +44 (0) 7789 921 165.

• The University of Birmingham is ranked amongst the world’s top 100 institutions, its work brings people from across the world to Birmingham, including researchers and teachers and more than 5,000 international students from over 150 countries.
• The history of collaboration between China and the University of Birmingham dates back almost to the foundation of the University in 1901. The China Institute was created to reflect the University’s extensive academic activities its colleagues undertake in China. 
• The HUST delegation comprised of: 

- Chen Jianguo Vice President, HUST
- Liu Junhua Dean, School of International Education
- He Gang Deputy Director, International Exchange Center
- Wan Tian Regional Manager, International Exchange Cente
- Wang Fang Vice Dean, School of Basic Medicine
- Li Hongbin Vice Dean, School of Electrical and Electronic Engineering
- Mao Jing Dean, School of Nursing
- Liu Yijuan Senior Lecturer, School of Nursing
- Feng Zhanchun Dean, School of Medicine and Health Management
- Wang Yan Associate Professor, School of Physics
- Hu Jingping Professor, School of Environmental Science and Engineering
- Ouyang Hongbing Vice Dean, School of Economics
- Zhang Xianglin Professor, School of Materials Science and Engineering

• The Huazhong University of Science and Technology (HUST) is a national key university directly under the administration of the Ministry of Education of P. R. China, and is among the first group of “985” Universities.
• It was founded on May 26, 2000 after the merger of the former Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Tongji Medical University and Wuhan Urban Construction Institute. HUST ranked 8th in China in 2014 (Shanghai Jiaotong University academic ranking).
• The University currently has 11 major disciplines: engineering, medicine, management, science, philosophy, economics, law, education, literature, history and agriculture, offering a variety of degree programs, including 86 undergraduate programs, 303 graduate programs and 237 PhD programs.