To fulfill the specific implementation of the joint training Ph.D program of the two universities, the delegation led by Didier Viviers, Rector of the Université libre de Bruxelles (ULB), visited ECNU and attended the ULB Day activities held in the University.
Tong Shijun and Chen Qun met the delegation of ULB respectively..
On the morning, Chen Qun, President of ECNU met the delegation and held a meeting on further the cooperation between the two universities. Chen first expressed welcome to the delegation and then introduced the history, discipline characteristics, research and the internationalization process of ECNU in detail. Then Chen briefly recalled the cooperation plans discussed with Viviers during the 1st Meeting of the EU-China Higher Education Platform Cooperation and Exchange (HEPCE) held in April, 2013.
The delegation participate in the ULB Day activities held in ECNU.
After expressing appreciation for ECNU’s hospitality, especially the well-designed ULB Day activities, Viviers introduced the faculties, scales and the development of international cooperation of ULB.
Both sides discussed issues including strengthening exchange visits of teachers to promote joint researches, student communication, joint training Ph.D/master programs, the possibility of establishing a high level research Confucius Institute, and the would-be fields of research cooperation.
Viviers makes a speech in ECNU.
Viviers and Tong exchange gifts.
In the end of the meeting, Chen sincerely invited François Englert, a professor of ULB and 2013 Nobel Prize laureate in physics, to visit ECNU this year. He asked Viviers to present the invitation sighed with his signature to Englert.
On the afternoon, Viviers made a speech named “What is University” at the lecture hall of Yifu Building on Zhongbei Campus. In his speech, he analyzed the origin, style and independence of European universities, as well as challenges including academic freedom, basic researches, and innovation for scientific researches that European universities are facing. He also emphasized the importance of cooperation between Chinese and European universities for a better future of higher education.
Viviers awards ULB scholarship to the first three joint-trained Ph.D candidates from ECNU.
Viva Chorus sing songs of both China and Belgium to welcome the guest.
After the speech, Tong Shijun, Chairman of ECNU University Council and Viviers held a news conference to accept interviews on issues including education philosophy, the exchanges and cooperation among Chinese and European universities.
The delegation visit the University.
ULB is a French-speaking university in Brussels, Belgium. It has had four Nobel Prize laureate since its establishment in 1834. It has about 24,200 students, 32% of whom come from abroad, and an equally cosmopolitan staff. ECNU has begun cooperation with ULB since October, 2012. And it is one of the leading European universities in cooperation with ECNU.
Written by: Liu Jinyu
