XMU Attends Virtual GU8 Meeting for Global Collaboration

Posted: 2020-06-12   Visits: 309

On June 5, the GU8 11th Joint Research Committee (JRC) Meeting and 12th Education Committee (EC) Meeting, co-organized by the University of Hull and Université Le Havre Normandie, were held virtually via Zoom. The meetings were attended by representatives from GU8 member institutions the University of Hull, Université Le Havre Normandie, Otto-von-Guericke Universität, Inha University, Xiamen University (XMU), and Universiti Malaysia Perlis. 

The opening plenary session featured welcoming remarks by Professor Philip Gilmartin, International Pro-Vice-Chancellor of the University of Hull. He stressed that the focus on physical mobility and face-to-face interactions within the GU8 Consortium could shift towards more remote interactions and digital modes of delivering content. He invited the JRC and EC to explore new ways of working together in research and education.

In the opening plenary session, the participating universities shared their practices, new tools, and lessons learned during the COVID-19 pandemic. They also exchanged thoughts on how to work better together within the GU8 network. Professor Tan Shaobin, Associate Vice President for International Affairs, presented Xiamen University’s efforts in battling against the pandemic over the past few months. He spoke about the development of COVID-19 test kits and SARS-CoV-2 Nucleic-acid-test products, the measures undertaken to help cope with the pandemic, and PPE donations to Malaysia and the UK, amongst other topics. He also raised some proposals on how to further cooperation within GU8 and invited other member institutions to XMU Centenary Celebration in 2021.

Following the opening, the Education Committee and Joint Research Committee held separate sessions in parallel. The meetings were conducted to review progress on activities carried out since the last EC and JRC meetings and to discuss future activities according to the guidelines of the last Council of Presidents Meeting (Hull, April 2019).

At the EC meeting, the participants evaluated the GMBA and Leadership Program and reassessed its academic content, target participants, structure, and expansion. It was agreed that GU8 members will share their online resources in the future. Professor Wu Chong, Deputy Director of MBA Education Center, School of Management, briefed the committee on the progress of the program.

At the JRC meeting, several proposals, such as the setting up of a research directory, launch of thematic seminars/webinars, involvement of young researchers in the network, projects open to GU8 members and possible external funding sources, were also discussed. Professor Tan Zhong, Director of Office of Science and Technology, shared the platforms for international collaborations at XMU. Professor Wang Xinhong, Vice Dean of College of Ecology and Environment, and Professor Zhao Yingru, Director of Institute of Energy Efficiency, also introduced research in their respective fields.

The EC meeting and JRC meeting were moderated by EC Chair Professor Michael Hauchecorne and JRC Chair Professor Dan Parsons respectively.

The GU8 Consortium is an alliance of universities from around the world whose objective is a dynamic and distinctive collaboration, building innovative curricula and research programs. The Consortium focuses on five key thematic areas: advanced technologies, global business, maritime affairs, logistics and renewable energy. The Consortium consists of the following eight institutions: Inha University, Korea, Xiamen University, China, Université Le Havre Normandie, France, University of Hull, UK, Otto-von-Guericke Universität, Germany, Universiti Malaysia Perlis, Malaysia, University of Haifa, Israel, and the University of Fortaleza, Brazil. 


Source: Office of International Cooperation and Exchange