University strengthens research ties with China

The University of Newcastle has been awarded Best Cooperation Partner 2012 by the Chinese Service Center for Scholarly Exchange (CSCSE).

CSCSE is a public organisation under China's Ministry of Education that facilitates academic and student exchange between Chinese and foreign universities. It represents 47 universities in China who partner with 64 universities world-wide, only nine of which are Australian.

"The award is a major coup for Newcastle. It recognises our extensive research collaboration and engagement in China, and strengthens our relationship further," Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Research) Professor Mike Calford said.

The award capped off a successful week in China last month where Professor Calford delivered the keynote speech at CSCSE's China Study Abroad Forum 2013 in Beijing.

The University also signed a Memorandum of Understanding with CSCSE focused on joint PhD supervision, the first Australian university to do so.

"The Memorandum puts us in a strong collaborative arrangement with our Chinese counterparts, allowing us to work closely with Chinese partners sending high-achieving scholars abroad," Professor Calford said.

The University already has a number of strong research collaborations in China. These include stroke research with the Harbin Medical University (in partnership with the Hunter Medical Research Institute),and power engineering with the North China Electric Power Institute and Zhejiang University through the Newcastle Institute for Energy and Resources (NIER).

There are currently close to 100 Chinese PhD candidates studying with the University of Newcastle, making up 4 per cent of the cohort at Australian universities.