The Governor of China's most populous province has visited QUT on a significant day for Australia-China relations.
His Excellency Governor Zhu Xiaodan, Governor of Guangdong province in south China, was given a tour of The Cube, one of the world's largest interactive learning and display spaces, before being briefed on a series of key research collaborations between QUT and institutions in Guangdong.
The province is one of China's economic powerhouses, with a population of more than 105 million, GDP in excess of US$1 trillion and manufacturing hubs in cities including Guangzhou and Shenzhen.
Governor Zhu's visit came after Chinese President Xi Jinping and Prime Minister Tony Abbott signed a historic multibillion dollar Free Trade Agreement earlier in the afternoon, with President Xi also addressing federal parliament.
After inspecting The Cube, the two-storey-high digital centrepiece of the Science and Engineering Centre, at QUT's Gardens Point campus, Governor Zhu was given updates on joint projects between QUT and Guangdong.
QUT Vice-Chancellor Professor Peter Coaldrake and Professor Scott Sheppard, Deputy Vice-Chancellor (International and Development) welcomed Governor Zhu and his delegation to QUT.
"We are delighted to welcome Governor Zhu to QUT, particularly on this important day for Australia-China relations," Professor Coaldrake said.
"QUT is proud of its very strong ties with Guangdong, and China generally, and this was a fantastic opportunity to talk to Governor Zhu about the hugely successful collaborations we share across research, teaching and student and staff exchange."
QUT has several agreements with Sun Yat Sen University, in Guangzhou, including student and staff exchange programs, study tours and a course taught by QUT staff to students in SYSU's School of Software.
SYSU is also one of the most important partners of the Australia-China Centre for Tissue Engineering and Regenerative Medicine (ACCTERM), based at QUT, with SYSU set to host the ACCTERM 2016 forum.
QUT and Guangdong University of Foreign Studies also share strong ties with student exchange agreements in place since 2011, as well as regular visits from QUT staff.
A multi-dimensional relationship with GDUFS' International College, School of Finance, School of English for International Business, Graduate School of Business, School of Informatics and School of Public Administration has seen more than 200 students from GDUFS visiting QUT and academics from both institutions visiting the partner university.
QUT has also offered expertise to the Guangdong Education Department for a teacher training program that has seen a group of principals visit QUT.
Other university partners for QUT in the province include:
• South China University of Technology
• Guangzhou Medical University (mainly in nursing and coursework cooperation)
• Guangdong Medical College
• Southern Medical University
Raw footage of Governor Zhu's visit is available: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mzQqXDL-HMA&feature=youtu.be
Contact: Janne Rayner, QUT media 3138 3026 or 0478 408 263/Rose Trapnell 3138 2361 or 0407 585 901 media@qut.edu.au
