MEDIA RELEASE PR36616
International Education a Two-Way Street, Says President of Leading Australian University
BEIJING, Oct. 16 /Medianet International-AsiaNet/ --
An increasing number of Australian students will undertake part of their studies in Asia, including at leading
Chinese universities, according to the President and Vice Chancellor of the University of New South Wales
(UNSW), Professor Fred Hilmer.
Professor Hilmer told a gathering of UNSW alumni from throughout the Asia Pacific region that UNSW
students would have the opportunity to graduate as "Global Citizens of the University" through the
incorporation of short term placements and courses overseas into Australian degrees.
Professor Hilmer made the comments in his keynote lecture at today's (Fri, Oct 16th) 60th Anniversary
UNSW Reunion in Beijing - held to celebrate the 60th anniversary of the University, and coinciding with
China's 60th anniversary celebration.
"UNSW's strategic aim is to build on its position as a leading research intensive university in the Asia Pacific,
with particular interest in expanding links to China," he said.
"UNSW recognises the rapid improvement in tertiary education in the region, and the need for international
education to be a genuine, two-way exchange; we envisage more Australian students will undertake some
aspect of their degree in Asia in the near future.
"Following discussions with a number of Presidents of leading Chinese universities I am confident that, at
the working level, Australia's reputation remains sound, despite recent negative publicity. We are increasingly
seen as a destination offering quality education and not just a migration pathway.
"I am optimistic about continuing demand from quality students in an expanding range of disciplines,"
Professor Hilmer said.
The recent opening of a new Confucius Institute at UNSW in partnership with the prestigious Shanghai Jiao
Tong University, as well as nine additional collaborations with other top Chinese Universities, will rapidly
expand the exchange of students, researchers and academics between Australia and China, UNSW's first
academic to take up a short term post at SJTU under the new agreement left for Shanghai last month.
Tackling environmental challenges, one of UNSW's core strengths, is also driving regional links. Prominent
UNSW alumnus, Dr Shi Zhengrong is Chairman of China's Suntech, the world's largest solar panel
manufacturer. Suntech is training the next generation of renewable energy engineers at UNSW, which has
long held numerous world records in photo-voltaic efficiency.
The benefits of academic collaboration were starkly illustrated during last year's devastating Sichuan
earthquake. UNSW satellite imaging experts provided vital technical data to help the Chinese Earthquake
Authority direct rescue teams and predict aftershocks, through a partnership with the Chinese Academy of
Sciences.
UNSW, founded in 1949, was Australia's first international university and enrolled promising Asia-Pacific
students from 1952 on Colombo plan scholarships. UNSW now boasts 200,000 graduates, alumni chapters
across Asia and a strong cohort of alumni in China.
Media contacts:
Mary O'Malley
Mobile: +86 (0) 131 221 363 47
or
Louise Williams
+ 61 (0) 407 061 209
Louise.Williams@unsw.edu.au
SOURCE: University of New South Wales (UNSW)
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