Flinders University’s Vice-Chancellor, Professor Michael Barber, is visiting China as a member of a national trade mission led by Australia’s Minister for Trade and Investment, the Honourable Andrew Robb.
The Australia Week in China mission, from April 7-11, is visiting cities including Chengdu, Shanghai and Beijing for high level meetings with Chinese political and business leaders to promote and explore further opportunities for trade, investment and tourism between the two countries
Professor Barber (pictured) said his participation in the mission reflected Flinders University’s long-standing and increasing engagement with China and its elite teaching and research institutions.
“Education services form a significant part of Australia’s trade with China,” Professor Barber said.
“Through a range of new and established collaborative teaching programs, Flinders is making an important contribution to China’s national strategies through skills and capacity building, especially in the area of health care,” Professor Barber said.
“Our engagement with China also focuses on joint research and development projects in new technologies, processes and products.
“All of these activities have immense potential for mutual social and economic benefits.”
Flinders has taught in China for over a decade and currently teaches, in particular, three postgraduate courses in hospital management, educational leadership and regional economics and trade in partnership with Nankai University. More than 420 students graduated from these courses in 2013.
Other major programs are in Changsha where Central South University (CSU), Hunan University and Flinders operate a joint research centre.
Flinders’ internationally recognised expertise in the training of doctors in rural and remote areas has been recognised in China by the establishment of the China-Australia General Practitioner Education, Training and Research Centre, based at the Third Xiangya Hospital of CSU.
Other Flinders’ expertise and the focus of activities of particular relevance to the Australia Week in China mission include: medical devices and assisted living technologies, hospital and aged care management, allied health, rehabilitation, disability studies, paramedics, aquaculture, biotechnology, marine science, tourism, event management and creative arts.