Successful trip to China, Hong Kong and Singapore

Our Vice-Chancellor Professor Anthony Forster has just returned from a successful trip to China, Hong Kong and Singapore, where he strengthened existing collaborations with several universities and fostered good relations with potential new partners.

During the two-week tour Professor Forster and key Essex colleagues visited universities in Beijing, Singapore, Shanghai, Xian, Hong Kong and Macau. 

The trip also included our Institute for Analytics and Data Science co-hosting the first international conference on Frontiers and Advances in Data Science and Analytics (FAADS) which was held in Xian and brought together scientists, professionals, industry practitioners and users from a range of disciplinary backgrounds to share knowledge and the latest developments in data science and analytics..

The trip began with a visit to SIM Global Education in Singapore, followed by a trip to Renmin University of China in Beijing, where we renewed our existing agreement relating to joint courses.

In Shanghai, Professor Forster visited Fudan University to sign an exchange agreement with Fudan School of Economics. The Essex delegation then visited Shanghai University of Finance and Economics.

One of the highlights of the tour was the visit to Northwest University in Xian where Professor Forster officially signed a partnership agreement which includes a prestigious new joint four-year degree course in electronics engineering. Professor Anthony Vickers, Head of our School of Computer Science and Electronic Engineering, gave a presentation to the first cohort of 118 students, followed by a Q and A session.

During the Northwest visit there was also discussion around potential collaboration in new academic areas and student exchange and study abroad opportunities as Northwest shares Essex’s commitment to student mobility as a crucial aspect of providing a transformative education and global graduates.

In Hong Kong the Essex delegation visited the University of Hong Kong School of Professional and Continuing Education (SPACE) and at the University of Hong Kong there was an agreement signing.

During a visit to the University of Macau the Essex team visited the laboratories of the Faculty of Science and Technologies and Professor Forster signed a new exchange agreement.

Professor Forster visited the following universities and institutions:

• University of Macau
• University of Hong Kong
• Northwest University
• SIM Global Education
• Renmin University of China
• Fudan University
• Shanghai University of Finance and Economics
• Lingnan University

See photographs from the trip on our flickr site.