His ExcellencyJonathan Austin, New Zealand Ambassador to China, and His Delegation Visit the University
On February 3rd, His Excellency Jonathan Austin, New Zealand Ambassador to China, led a delegation to pay an official visit and conduct exchanges with the University. Wu Yantao, Secretary of the Party Committee of the University , held a cordial meeting with the delegation. Both parties conducted in-depth discussions on issues including collaborative education and scientific research cooperation, two-way exchanges between teachers and students, high-level talent training, and co-construction of innovation platforms. Liu Yu, Deputy Secretary of the Party Committee of the University, presided over the discussion. Lin Haibin, Deputy Director of the Foreign Affairs Office of Shandong Provincial Party Committee, and relevant responsible comrades from the Americas and Oceania Department accompanied the meeting.
Wu Yantao extended a warm welcome to His Excellency Jonathan Austin and his delegation, and elaborated on the school-running orientation and development pattern of the University. He focused on expounding the landmark achievements made by the University during the 14th Five-Year Plan period in areas such as the construction of talent training systems, tackling key core technologies, improving social service capabilities, gathering high-end talents, and building advantageous disciplines, with special emphasis on the fruitful results in international exchanges and cooperation. Wu Yantao pointed out that the University has a profound foundation and broad space for cooperation with universities in New Zealand: in the field of talent training, the University jointly launched an undergraduate program in Wine Making Engineering with Eastern Institute of Technology, New Zealand, which is the first implemented cooperative education program in the wine field in China. After 11 years of intensive development, through the joint efforts of both parties, the program has achieved in-depth integration and strong alliance of advantageous disciplines and high-quality educational resources, and the quality of talent training has been widely praised and highly recognized by all sectors of society; in the field of scientific and technological innovation, the University has carried out collaborative technological research with well-known universities such as Auckland University of Technology, co-established joint laboratories, and reached a consensus on deepening cooperation in the future. Wu Yantao expressed the expectation that the Universitywill further expand the dimensions of cooperation with top universities and scientific research institutions in New Zealand, deepen practical cooperation in areas such as cooperative education, joint scientific research, and high-level talent exchanges, and open a new journey for the next "ten-year cooperation" through high-quality cooperation, so as to make positive contributions to enhancing the traditional friendship between the peoples of China and New Zealand.
His Excellency Jonathan Austin expressed sincere thanks to the University for its warm reception and thoughtful arrangements, highly affirmed the remarkable achievements of the University in the field of international cooperation, and fully recognized the potential for future cooperation between the two parties and universities and scientific research institutions in New Zealand. He systematically introduced the characteristics, advantages and key development areas of New Zealand's higher education system, emphasizing that the New Zealand government attaches great importance to exchanges and cooperation with Chinese universities and scientific research institutions, and the New Zealand Embassy in China will continue to provide support and assistance for the in-depth connection between the University and universities in New Zealand. His Excellency Jonathan Austin stated that he expects both parties to continuously expand cooperation areas, elevate cooperation levels, and deepen practical collaboration on the basis of the existing sound cooperation, so as to push bilateral exchanges and cooperation to a new height.
During the visit, His Excellency Jonathan Austin and his delegation conducted an on-site inspection of relevant scientific research platforms of the University, cordially greeted representatives of foreign experts working at the University, and gained a detailed understanding of the construction of scientific research conditions, the transformation of scientific research achievements, and the advancement of industrialization.
Relevant responsible comrades from the International Cooperation Office, School of Chemistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences, School of Biotechnology and Bioengineering, School of Control Science and Engineering, and School of Art participated in the above activities.
