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Shanghai Hopes

Hi-Tech Scotland reporter | Friday April 11, 2008



Scotland’s academic ties with China have been boosted by an historic agreement between the University of Abertay Dundee and Shanghai University.

Senior representatives of the two universities met at the Whampoa Club in Shanghai to sign a memorandum of understanding, witnessed by the Scottish Government’s Cabinet Secretary for Education and Lifelong Learning, Fiona Hyslop MSP.

Abertay’s Principal and Vice-Chancellor, Professor Bernard King, signed the agreement with Shanghai University’s Executive Vice-President Professor Zhewei Zhou.

Professor Grahame Wright, Abertay’s Pro-Vice-Chancellor International, Professor Qiu Rui-ming, Dean of Fine Arts College, SU, Professor Jin Guan-jun, Dean of Film & TV Technology College, SU, and Zhong Xinming, Dean of Digital Arts College, SU, also attended the ceremony.

The Memorandum of Understanding signed today commits both institutions to jointly explore the potential for academic collaboration in a number of areas including exchange visits by students and staff.

In particular, the two universities want to develop opportunities for faculty members and students of both institutions to learn from each other in the fields of academic development, research, pedagogy, and the relationships between universities and their local and regional communities and relevant industries.

Abertay is best known for its pioneering work in university-level teaching and research in computer games technology and computer arts. It is the originator and promoter of the world-famous annual Dare to be Digital competition, for example, in which student teams from around the world (including Chinese students in the last two years) compete to design and build prototype video games.

Shanghai University (SU) is one of the Chinese Government’s ‘Project 211’ institutions – an elite group of 106 universities and colleges selected for their ability to contribute to China’s ambitious economic and social development agenda.

SU’s Digital Arts College, for example, is staging a Digital Art Exhibition as part of the Beijing Olympics later this year, and has invited Abertay Students to contribute artwork for display.

SU's Digital Arts College and Abertay's School of Computing and Creative Technologies signed a faculty-level agreement earlier this year under which students from SU's digital arts course will be able to articulate (enter at second or third year) on to Abertay's computer games courses.

The University-level agreement signed today sets the framework in which SU and Abertay can develop further such partnerships across a range of other disciplines.

Speaking before the Memorandum was signed Principal King said: “This memorandum will be a great benefit to both Abertay and Shanghai Universities.

“In it we have agreed to explore the possibilities for building academic partnerships which opens up a world of options including the opportunity for faculty members to exchange roles to promote mutual understanding.

“Both Scotland and China are countries with great history and traditions but they are also modern communities with growing and well established leading edge industries.

“I am proud that Abertay is able to help demonstrate the Scottish Government’s commitment to encouraging increased international educational activity.

“I am also keen to develop cultural links which would be of benefit to staff and students from both universities and their wider communities.”

Cabinet Secretary for Education and Lifelong Learning Fiona Hyslop said: “China presents an enormous opportunity for us to drive forward sustainable economic growth for Scotland.

“This week alone, we have seen strengthened links between the two countries at school, undergraduate postgraduate and research levels.

“Abertay’s partnership with Shanghai University shows how Scottish institutions can really seize the opportunities opening up, benefiting them and Scotland as a whole.

Professor Zhewei Zhou said: “Shanghai University has been working hard to help its students to prepare properly for working in an international environment.

“We are very happy to find a new partner in Abertay today. Both universities are from countries with long histories and rich heritage and, interestingly, we will start from a new creative area.

“I believe our faculty members and students will respect each other’s cultures and concept of value, eager to understand each other and work together enthusiastically for a better new world.”

www.scotland.gov.uk/news

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