Report of the UNSW Delegation visit to Zhanjiang, Dongguan, and Qingdao May 5-12 2018
During 5-12 May 2018, a delegation from UNSW Canberra comprising the Rector, Professor Michael Frater, Associate Dean (International Professor David Lovell, SARCCM Director and Deputy Director, Professor Xiao Hua Wang and Associate Professor Liz Ritchie, Associate Professor Jason Sharples from the School of Physical, Environmental, and Mathematical Sciences, Dr. Xiuping Jia and Dr. Jianfeng Xue from the School of Engineering and IT, and Dr. Isobel Jalon-Rojas from SARCCM, also joined by and Dr. Qiyuan Li, from the Global Water Institute in UNSW Sydney, visited Guangdong Ocean University, Zhanjiang, Dongguan University of Technology (DGUT), Dongguan, and Ocean University China, Qingdao.
7 May: Guandong Ocean University, Zhanjiang
The day began with a welcoming meeting hosted by the President of Guangdong Ocean University (GDOU), Professor Chunhai Ye. Professor Ye welcomed the UNSW delegation and provided background information on GDOU, discussing its history, its areas of strengths, and its student population. Professor Frater then provided similar information on UNSW and there was a general discussion about cooperation between the two institutions and the progress of funding for students to enrol in the Double Master Degrees program. This discussion was followed by an exchange of gifts and photos.
Following the welcoming meeting, there was an academic workshop where presentations on various aspects of mutually interesting research were given including in: oceanography and meteorology, mathematics, and engineering. This was followed by lunch hosted by GDOU. The day finished with the Associate Dean International, Professor Lovell and SARCCM Director, Professor Wang introducing the Double Master Degrees program to potential students. Approximately 20 GDOU students attended this meeting and showed interest for these programs.
The UNSW delegation then departed for Dongguan.
8 May: Dongguan University of Technology, Guangdong.
The UNSW delegation began their time in Dongguan with a visit to the Songshan Lake Robotics Centre where they were shown a variety of different robots including the dancing robots.
At Dongguan University of Technology (DGUT), the first item of business was a formal signing of the Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) between DGUT and UNSW for a PhD program between DGUT and UNSW. The ceremony was hosted by the DGUT Vice President for Research, Mr. Zhonghong Li. Introductions to DGUT and the Dongguan Science and Technology Bureau (DGSTB) were provided to the UNSW delegates. Professor Frater reciprocated by introducing general information on UNSW to the group. The speeches were followed by a signing ceremony of the MOU on the International Collaborative PhD program between the Dongguan City Government and UNSW. The ceremony ended with an exchange of gifts and photos.
The UNSW delegation then split into three groups, with the Rector, AD(I) and Director SARCCM meeting with the President DGUT discussing the UNSW Canberra City East campus, A/Prof Sharples, Dr. Jia, Dr. Xue, and Dr. Li meeting with engineering counterparts, and A/Prof Ritchie and Dr. Jalon-Rojas meeting with representatives from the DGUT School of Business.
After lunch the UNSW delegation was taken on a tour of the Songshan Lake Science and Technology Industrial Park facility. The facility sits in the geometric centre of Dongguan on 72 square km of land and is a research and development facility that supports scientific innovation, education, and start up companies. After this the group toured the China Spallation Neutron Source (CSNS), which includes a linear proton accelerator, a rapid cycling synchrotron, a target station and three neutron instruments.
After dinner, the Rector departed for Canberra.
9 May: Shandong University of Technology, Qingdao.
In the morning, the UNSW delegation travelled from Dongguan to Qingdao.
In the afternoon, the UNSW delegation met with representatives from Shandong University of Technology (SDUST) including: Prof. Yao Qingguo, Vice President of SDUST; Mr. Zhao Xiangdong, Director of the International Office; Prof. Zhu Jianguo, Director of the College of Geomatics; and Prof Yang Fanlin, Deputy Director of the College of Geomatics. The representatives of both institutions discussed details of the Double Master Degrees Program and a tentative plan for the President of SDUST to visit UNSW in May 2019 was discussed.
After this the UNSW delegation were taken on a tour of the SDUST College of Geomatics and the campus before heading back to the hotel for dinner.
10 May: Ocean University of China, Qingdao.
At Ocean University of China (OUC) a ceremony celebrating 10 years of Academic Exchange through SARCCM was celebrated by a brief ceremony and exchanges of gifts. This was followed by a discussion of the UNSW-OUC Joint PhD program, and a presentation of the CSC as well as the Double Master Degrees program to prospective students followed by a Q&A session with prospective students of both the Double Master Degrees, CSC and the proposed joint PhD programs.
Following this, the delegation went on a tour of the College of Oceanography and Meteorology. Professor Lovell was particularly interested in the wave tanks – we might convert him to science yet!
After lunch the UNSW delegation went on a tour of Taiqing Palace in Laoshan, a Taoist palace built the reign of the first Emperor of the Northern Song Dynasty approximately 1,000 years ago.
11-12 May: The UNSW delegation returned to Canberra.
Dancing robots at the Songshan Lake Robotics Centre
Signing ceremony of the MOU on the UNSW-DGUT International Collaborative PhD program by UNSW Canberra Rector Professor Michael Frater and DGUT Vice President Professor Minglin Yang
The UNSW-OUC Academic Exchange 10th Anniversary Commemoration: 1st row from left to right Dr Xiuping Jia (UNSW Canberra), A/Prof Liz Ritchie (D/Director, SARCCM), Prof Xiao Hua Wang (Director, SARCCM), Prof David Lovell (ADI, UNSW Canberra), Prof Ju Yan (VP, OUC), Prof Wenhong Song (Director, OUC International Office), Prof Hongda Shi (Director, OUC GRS) and Prof Zhisong Fan (OUC). 2nd row from left to right Dr Isabel Jalon-Rojas (SARCCM), A/Prof Jason Sharples (UNSW Canberra), Dr Jianfeng Xue (UNSW Canberra), Dr Qiyuan Li (GWI, UNSW Sydney), A/Prof Sheng-kang Liang (OUC), A/Prof Xueguang Ma (OUC), Prof Lulu Qiao (OUC), A/Prof Wen Wu (OUC), Ms Tao Mei (OUC), Dr Shengnan Chen (OUC) and Ms Yu Hong (OUC).
UNSW Associate Dean International, Professor David Lovell examining the wave tank in the College of Oceanography and Meteorology, Ocean University of China, Qingdao.
