Nankai visitors explore research and study links with Birmingham

Senior leaders from Nankai University in China visited the University of Birmingham to explore future research partnerships, as well as student and staff exchange.

Vice President Professor Jiadong TONG and seven senior academic colleagues were welcomed by Professor Jon Frampton, Deputy Pro Vice Chancellor and Director of the China Institute.

Following a tour of the campus, the visitors met senior academic staff from the University of Birmingham, before discussing partnerships in a range of research areas, including: Government and Society, Economics, Mathematics and Big Data, Environmental Science, Bioscience, Electronic Engineering, and Chemistry.

The Nankai and Birmingham participants agreed to explore setting up a joint research institute for ‘green economy’ in Nankai that would allow research activities in interdisciplinary areas, faculty exchange, and joint PhD education.

Professor Frampton said: “Our distinguished guests’ visit is testament to the University of Birmingham’s growing reputation in China and represents another exciting opportunity for our researchers to foster strong partnerships across the globe.

“As a global ‘civic’ university in the 21st century, our responsibilities include contributing to enriching the life of both our home city and the wider world. We look forward to deepening the already strong partnership with Nankai University, as well as enhancing the education we provide to their students.

“This visit has laid the foundations for enhanced student exchange and research collaboration in many exciting areas of research in which both Birmingham and Nankai universities are recognised world leaders.”

The Nankai delegation’s visit to the University followed exchange visits and discussions between the two universities over the last 18 months.

Professor TONG was accompanied by Deputy Dean of Graduate School, Professor Yubin LIU; Director of International Affairs, Graduate School, Ms. Xian ZHANG; Dean of the School of Medicine, Professor Rong XIANG; State Distinguished Advisor, College of Environmental Science & Engineering, Professor Hongjun MAO; Professor Tao SUN, Deputy Dean of School of Government; Deputy Dean of School of Government, Professor Tao SUN; Secretary of Foreign Affairs, School of Mathematics, Mr. Jianxini LI; and Professor of School of Bioscience, Professor Ting MA.

For more information, please contact Tony Moran, International Communications Manager, University of Birmingham on +44 (0) 121 414 8254 or +44 (0)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.
• It is ranked 7th in the UK for Graduate Employability (Destination of Leavers from Higher Education survey 2014/15) and was named University of the Year for Graduate Employment 2015/16 by The Times and Sunday Times.
• The history of collaboration between China and the University of Birmingham dates back almost to the foundation of the University in 1901. The University’s China Institute was created in 2012 to reflect Birmingham’s extensive academic activities its colleagues undertake in China. 
• Nankai University was established in 1919, and is a China national 211 and 985 University. It ranks between 11-15 in China (NetBig). It is a comprehensive university, with 80 undergraduate disciplines, 231 Master’s programmes and 172 PhD programmes, in areas such as arts, social sciences, law, economics, medicine and engineering.