Awards to two outstanding Chinese alumni were made ahead of Flinders University’s graduation ceremony for students of the joint programs taught with Nankai University, which was held in Tianjin, China, on October 29.
Ni Rong, who graduated from the Masters of Health Administration in 2008, is Head of the Health Bureau of Gongshu District, Hanghzou City. In this role, he has overseen improvements to health programs for 600,000 residents. The award-winning Gongshu model has become highly influential in China’s national health care policy.
Xu Jingrong, a 2002 graduate of the Master of Arts (International Relations in Economics and Trade), is a Vice-President of the Bank of China, Tianjin Branch, with responsibility for the company finance section of the whole bank. Her service and leadership of aspects of the development of the bank’s commercial operations have been recognised with numerous awards.
Some 230 graduates of the Flinders-Nankai courses received their degrees from Flinders Chancellor Mr Stephen Gerlach at a ceremony and reception, which was also attended by Vice-Chancellor Professor Michael Barber and other senior and teaching staff. Nankai University’s representation was headed by Professor Wang Yingjun, Vice-Dean of the School of Economic and Social Development Research.
The Outstanding Alumni Awards are the first to be made to Flinders-Nankai alumni. Flinders has been teaching in Nankai since 2000, and the two Masters courses are recognised as a benchmark of quality in foreign courses by China’s Ministry of Education.