From September 25th to 28th, Professor Chen Chunsheng, Secretary of SYSU Party Committee, led a high-level academic delegation of SYSU to visit France and Belgium. He discussed with local universities, government departments and relevant institutions on deepening cultural exchanges and higher education cooperation, promoting cross-disciplinary research, and improving the talent training.
Secretary Chen Chunsheng and the delegation visited the Université Lumière Lyon 2 in France
On September 25 , Professor Chen Chunsheng and the delegation visited the Université Lumière Lyon 2 in France. Professor Jim Walker, the Vice President of International Relations, and representatives from the Faculty of Economics and Management, Faculty of Languages, International Center for French Learning (CIEF), Education, Culture, and Policy (ECP) Laboratory, and International Office attended the meeting.
The two universities just completed the signing of the memorandum of understanding and the student exchange agreement. During the meeting, the two sides conducted in-depth discussions on how to innovate forms and expand areas of cooperation. The two parties will carry out various forms of substantive cooperation in traditional advantageous fields such as language and literature, history, and management. They will also actively promote cross-disciplinary research and tap cooperation potential in fields such as medical translation, hospital management, medical humanities, and aging population research.
Secretary Chen Chunsheng took a photo with Ambassador Lu Shaye
On the morning of September 26 , Professor Chen Chunsheng and the delegation visited the Chinese Embassy in France. Ambassador Lu Shaye and Minister Counselor Zhou Jiagui attended the reception. Chen Chunsheng introduced SYSU’s international exchanges and cooperation, especially the progress of cooperation with French universities. Ambassador Lu Shaye spoke highly of SYSU's contribution to exchanges and cooperation in higher education and scientific and technological innovation between China and France. He hoped that SYSU would continue to expand its opening up of education, strive to improve the quantity and quality of international students, and actively spread the excellent Chinese culture.
Secretary Chen Chunsheng and the delegation visited Sciences Po, France
In the afternoon, the delegation went to the Sciences Po, a famous social science research university in France. It has trained 7 French presidents and 13 French prime ministers in its history of more than 140 years. The delegation visited the university's new St. Thomas campus opened in 2022, and had a discussion with the head of international affairs of the university. The two parties reviewed their close cooperation over the past decade, especially the popular student exchange program. Both parties have considerable advantages in the fields of political science, public administration, economics, management, language and literature, and history. Both parties hope to continue to deepen cooperation in the above-mentioned subjects, carry out more forms of student exchange programs, and create more overseas learning opportunities for students from both sides.
Secretary Chen Chunsheng took a photo with President Jean -François Huchet of Inalco
On September 27, the delegation visited the French Institute of Oriental Languages and Cultures (Inalco). Professor Jean -François Huchet, the President of Inalco, attended the reception. He visited SYSU with French President Macron in April this year. Also participating in the reception were Prof. Gilles Forlot, Vice-President for EU and International Affairs, representatives from the Department of Chinese Studies, and the Incoming Mobility Manager. The two parties are currently negotiating to sign a memorandum of understanding and a student exchange agreement. During this meeting, the two sides discussed specific cooperation plans. The two parties will establish cooperation starting from student mobility focusing on language training, and then continue to promote exchanges of students at different training levels, and gradually expand cooperation to regional studies, economics, management and more.
Secretary Chen Chunsheng signed agreements with Ghent University in Belgium on behalf of SYSU
On September 28, Professor Chen Chunsheng and the delegation came to Ghent University in Belgium and met with the President, Professor Rik Van de Walle, and Director of Internationalisation, Professor Guido Van Huylenbroeck. Relevant leaders from Ghent University Hospital, Department of Languages and Cultures, Department of Educational Studies, Department of Geography, and East Asia Platform participated in the meeting. The two parties reviewed the results of previous cooperation, especially the comprehensive cooperation between Gent and the First Affiliated Hospital of SYSU in the fields of otolaryngology and allergy research, which brought the project leader, Professor Claus Bachert , the first "Guangdong Province Friendship Award". Both parties agreed that with similar size and similar disciplinary advantages, the two universities have great potential for cooperation, especially in the fields of language, culture, history, medicine, computer and engineering and hope to promote pragmatic cooperation in these fields in the future. After the meeting, Professor Chen Chunsheng and Professor Van de Walle signed a memorandum of understanding and an student exchange agreement on behalf of the two universities.
On September 29th, the delegation visited the Free University of Brussels, Belgium, and had in-depth discussions with Solvay Brussels School of Economics and Management and the Faculty of Languages, Translation and Communication on student exchanges, teacher exchanges, cross-disciplinary research and other cooperation intentions.
While in Paris, Secretary Chen Chunsheng also participated in the 2023 French Alumni Association activities of SYSU and visited alumni in France. This year coincides with the 10th anniversary of the French Alumni Association. He expressed his good wishes to the association and thanked it for its continued care and support for the alma mater. He looked forward to the return of alumni from all over the world to SYSU next year to jointly celebrate the 100th anniversary of SYSU.
