Beijing: Flinders University has reaffirmed its commitment to teaching the teachers – developing a new Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Capital Normal University (CNU) in a relationship first forged close to 20 years ago.
One of the longest-standing Sino-Australian teaching programs of its kind, it sees Flinders academics travel to China each year to deliver Masters subjects in an intensive-mode, upskilling Chinese educators by equipping them with advanced teaching knowledge, innovative curriculum and assessment design.
Flinders University President and Vice-Chancellor Professor Colin Stirling met with Professor Fang Fuquan, the President of Capital Normal University, to sign a new MoU to add environmental sustainability, biology and public health to the teaching and research activities of the two universities.
The occasion was witnessed by the Premier of South Australia, the Honourable Peter Malinauskas MP, reflecting the importance of higher education to South Australia’s economic and social advancement.
“Our first MoU in 2004 brought our academics here to share their expertise with emerging educators and we now have 800-plus alumni spread across the country educating the future talent of China,” Professor Stirling said.
“These graduates have progressed into strategic and far-reaching senior education roles across China and the region.
“The relationships we build across academia, industry and government support trade and friendly relations around the world, and across a range of sectors, with education central to this ethos.
“It’s why we are pleased to extend our relationship into the sciences, to additionally offer environmental management and sustainability, biology, and public health to our teaching and research offerings.”
The expanded MoU is a forerunner to next year’s formal celebrations in China to mark the 20-year anniversary of the Flinders-CNU collaboration.
Professor Stirling said for societies to thrive requires healthy people and healthy places – and together Flinders and CNU are helping to change lives and change the world.
“It’s incredible to think that next year we will celebrate 20-years of partnership that have contributed to the growth and prosperity of our alumni and the communities they serve,” Professor Stirling said.
“We anticipate many of our 800 alumni joining us in 2024 as we reflect on their myriad achievements as testament to the value of this collaboration, and look ahead to the opportunities our strengthening ties will deliver for future generations.”