The University of Birmingham and Huazhong University of Science and Technology agree teaching and research collaboration

The University of Birmingham and Huazhong University of Science and Technology(HUST) have signed a new agreement to work together on research and teaching.

The partnership strengthens existing collaboration between the two universities, which have committed to exploring research areas of common strength and interest.

Academics from the two universities will now discuss working together across a range of research areas as diverse as engineering, environmental sciences and nursing.

The institutions want to build on existing teaching agreements in mechanical engineering and railways, as well as exploring possibilities around mathematics, environmental sciences, nursing and chemistry.

Professor Jon Frampton, pictured above with Professor Jianguo Chen, HUST Vice President for International Affairs, signed the agreement for the University of Birmingham at a special ceremony held at HUST and attended by representatives from each university.

Professor Frampton, Deputy Pro-Vice-Chancellor and Director of the University’s China Institute, said:  “Signing this agreement with colleagues at HUST marks an exciting new era of close collaboration between our two universities in research and teaching.

“We believe that working together will lead to high-quality research that has an impact around the world. Our two universities already work well together on joint teaching programmes and closer working will enable us to further improve education for students.

“I was impressed by the openness and depth of conversation, as well as the willingness of colleagues at HUST to work with the University of Birmingham as a strategic partner. The next steps include creating an opportunity for colleagues and students at Birmingham to engage with their counterparts at HUST.”

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 programs, there is even bigger potential in research collaboration.

He said: “HUST and University of Birmingham should look to bring together researchers and faculty members as their first priority – it is the links between them that will make the partnership solid and lasting.” 

Professor Chen also proposed enhancing the partnership by setting up a management framework to coordinate all the collaboration programmes between the two universities. This could involve a HUST-Birmingham Institute, which both parties will investigate in the next steps.        

The University of Birmingham’s College of Engineering and Physical Sciences already has undergraduate teaching collaborations with HUST. 

This involves Chinese students spending two years at each university as part of the ‘Study Abroad’ programme, which has a long-standing reputation for attracting high-quality students from across the world.

 ENDS 

Notes to Editors                      

• 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 Institute co-ordinates  the numerous China interests on the Edgbaston campus, including lectures and seminars, hosting incoming visits and encouraging interdisciplinary research across campus.
• 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).

 For more information or interviews, please contact:

 Tony Moran, International Communications Manager, University of Birmingham on +44 (0) 121 414 8254 or  +44 (0)782 783 2312 or t.moran@bham.ac.uk