Adelaide signs historic agreement with Tsinghua

Tuesday, 2 May 2006

The University of Adelaide has signed an agreement with the prestigious Tsinghua University in Beijing to establish twinning programs in Commerce, Economics and Finance.

The Vice-Chancellor, Professor James McWha, signed the Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) in China last week during a two-week visit to Asia.

The agreement will allow Tsinghua University students to undertake the first year of their degree in Beijing and then transfer to Adelaide to complete their undergraduate studies in any of the three disciplines.

An existing articulation arrangement already enables students from Tsinghua University to transfer to Adelaide to complete their degrees in a number of different fields.

In reciprocal fashion, some University of Adelaide students are spending a semester at Tsinghua University this year, undertaking research in a variety of fields, thanks to a student exchange agreement between the two universities.

Professor McWha says the importance of the Tsinghua-Adelaide link should not be under estimated, both for the University and South Australia as a whole.

"Internationalisation is not just a one-way street. We are intent on sending our students to high quality universities overseas and Tsinghua University has been tagged by the Chinese Government to become one of the world's elite universities," Professor McWha says. "With China shaping up as the world's leading economic powerhouse, with growth rates of up to 10%, this partnership will significantly enhance the University of Adelaide's reputation and South Australia's own standing in China."

Tsinghua University has also proposed a collaborative research program with the University of Adelaide. This collaboration may also open the door for commercialisation opportunities in China.

Professor McWha has spent the past fortnight in Asia presiding over the University's offshore graduation ceremonies in Singapore, Kuala Lumpur and Hong Kong and strengthening ties with other tertiary institutions in the region.

China is now the University's largest source of international students, numbering more than 1230 in 2005 - a massive increase of more than 300% in just three years.

"The University has many other important relationships with leading universities in China, in fields ranging from engineering and computer science to commerce and economics, and from biotechnology and dryland farming to rural health and nursing," Professor McWha says.

 

Contact Details

Professor John Taplin
Email: john.taplin@adelaide.edu.au
Website: http://www.adelaide.edu.au/pvci/
Pro Vice-Chancellor (International)
The University of Adelaide
Business: +61 8 8313 5229


Mr David Ellis
Email: david.ellis@adelaide.edu.au
Website: https://www.adelaide.edu.au/newsroom/
Deputy Director, Media and Corporate Relations
External Relations
The University of Adelaide
Business: +61 8 8313 5414
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