CityU strengthens mainland ties

Professor H K Chang, President, leads a six-member delegation to Beijing from 26-29 January, further strengthening ties with the mainland and opening up opportunities for more academic and other collaborations.

The delegation met with Mr Chen Zuoer, Vice Director of the Hong Kong and Macao Affairs Office of the State Council, and officials from the Ministry of Education, as well as representatives from the mainland’s higher educational institutions and media. 

The visit aims to expand CityU’s network on the mainland and prepare for future student recruitment exercises by cultivating close ties with various units. In addition to Mr Chen, the delegation met with Mr Zhang Xinsheng, Vice Minister of Education and Professor Chen Naifang, President of Beijing Foreign Studies University.

In order to foster closer links with the mainland's media and understand their operations, the delegation met with Mr Wang Chen, Director of People’s Daily, Mr Zhao Huayong, Director of China Central Television (CCTV), Ms Chen Li, Deputy Director of China Education Television (CETV), Ms Huang Qing, Deputy Chief Editor of China Daily, and visited the People's Daily Online and the 21st Century newspaper.

During meetings with senior officials of various units, Professor Chang expressed CityU’s wish to explore further collaboration with mainland institutions via:

¨        supplying creative media talent from CityU’s School of Creative Media to the communication and entertainment industries on the mainland;

¨        offering the innovative teaching experience and wealth of information at CityU’s Chinese Civilisation Centre for use by mainland educational and communications institutions;

¨        strengthening collaboration in the recruitment of mainland students.

During the Beijing visit, the CityU delegation held a reunion party for about 30 CityU alumni in Beijing, and 30 scholars, exchange academics and students who have either taught or studied at CityU.

At the reunion, Professor Chang highlighted CityU’s achievements and initiatives:

¨        In just 20 years, outstanding academic and research achievements have enabled CityU to rank among the world’s top universities;

¨        CityU’s accomplishments in applied research are widely recognized;

¨        CityU pioneers trilateral partnerships among CityU, mainland and overseas universities;

¨        CityU focuses on professional undergraduate studies and whole-person education;

¨        CityU students have won awards in international contests;

¨        CityU actively advances its internationalization programme and strengthens collaboration with mainland institutions.

The visit attracted the attention of prominent media organizations in Beijing. The People’s Daily, Guangming Daily, Science and Technology Daily and Xianhua News Agency sent reporters to cover the visit.

CityU actively establishes and strengthens links with the mainland. Through fostering closer ties with Government departments, higher educational institutions, alumni and the media, the visit further promotes the University’s image on the mainland and opens up opportunities for further collaboration.