Warwick strengthens strategic ties with China
The University has strengthened its cooperation with China during a 10-day delegation visit led by the Vice-Chancellor, Stuart Croft.
The visit to Beijing and Shanghai enhanced research and embraced the achievements of Warwick’s alumni as a continuation of Warwick’s 60th anniversary celebrations. Croft also met with executives from Fudan University to celebrate the 20 years of collaboration between the two universities.
China has a hefty contribution to Warwick’s aggregate alumni: 31,000 of Warwick’s alumni come from China, 10.1% of the University’s global alumni network. China’s proportion of alumni is second only to the UK.
A second-year management student from China told The Boar: “I’m happy to see my university working with China. It will make Warwick more globally known.”
The primary reason behind the visit was to celebrate the launch of the Fudan-Warwick Joint Seed Fund (FWJSF) that launched in February.
The main purpose of the FWJSF is to promote pioneering research across various disciplines, broadening the opportunities for the exchange of academic expertise and students. The first wave of projects commenced in September.
Over the decades, we have built relationships founded on shared ambition, mutual respect, and a commitment to excellence in research and education … China remains an essential part of Warwick’s global story
Professor Stuart Croft, University Vice-Chancellor
Croft also visited Shanghai Jiao Tong University (SJTU). SJTU is the Chinese institution with the longest partnership with Warwick. Since 2019, their Joint Seed Fund has fostered more than 55 research projects between the two institutions.
Warwick’s visit to SJTU enhanced collaborations between the two institutions. The new joint PhD initiative enrolled its first group in autumn through virtual classrooms and academic workshops. The collaborations have led to an increased level of student-led innovations in both institutions.
The STJU-Warwick collaborations have also led to Warwick researchers co-authoring 155 research papers with SJTU counterparts.
Croft visited Peking University in Beijing to deepen strategic collaborations. He said he was ‘honoured’ to “reaffirm Warwick’s deep ties” with China.
“Over the decades, we have built relationships founded on shared ambition, mutual respect, and a commitment to excellence in research and education … China remains an essential part of Warwick’s global story.”
He also said Warwick is “more determined than ever” to “contribute to the shared goal of building a better future through education, research, innovation, and cross-cultural understanding”.
Professor Sai Gu, Deputy Pro-Vice-Chancellor (East and South East Asia), who joined the visit, said it was a “powerful reminder of the strength of Warwick’s Chinese community and the value of our longstanding partnerships in the country”.
“The connections between Warwick and China are dynamic, deep, and full of potential … We are committed to nurturing these relationships even further – creating more opportunities for collaboration, for talent to flourish, and for our communities to work together to tackle the pressing challenges and exciting opportunities of the future.”
Warwick’s reputation in China continues to improve with honorary graduates including Dr Roy Chung, Co-founder of Techtronic Industries and Warwick alumnus, and Professor Xinxin Zhang, former President of the University of Science and Technology Beijing.
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