Source: Office of International Cooperation & Exchange
Written by: Office of International Cooperation & Exchange
Proofread by: Guo Lianlian
Edited by: Wang Dongmei

On the afternoon of March 15, Professor Ian O’Connor, Vice Chancellor & President of Griffith University, led a 7-member delegation to visit SYSU. Members of the delegation also included Professor Sarah Todd, Pro Vice Chancellor (International); Professor Zhihong Xu, Director of Environmental Futures Research Institution; Professor Cordia Chu, Director of Centre for Environment and Population Health; Professor Xiangdong Yao, Research Fellow of Queensland Micro- and Nanotechnology Centre; and Mr. Thomas Toh, Regional Director of International Marketing.

President Xu Ningsheng met with the guests in the VIP Lounge of Zhongshan Building. He extended a warm welcome to Professor Ian O’Connor, an old friend of SYSU, and expected that the visit would further deepen the relations between the two universities. President Xu Ningsheng introduced SYSU’s recent achievements in international cooperation in running schools and major scientific research projects, and pointed out that SYSU attaches importance to undergraduate teaching quality, especially the promotion of general education. He hoped that the two universities can learn from each other and further develop cooperative relations.

Vice Chancellor & President Ian O’Connor said that he was glad to revisit SYSU and briefly introduced the new campus of Griffith University and its recent development. He held that SYSU has gained remarkable results in international development in recent years. Griffith University has always valued the relations between the two universities and he expected a long-term bilateral cooperation in research and education.

Prof. Qiu Rongliang, Dean of School of Environmental Sciences and Engineering, Prof. Hao Yuantao, Dean of School of Public Health, and Ms. Xu Yao, Deputy Director of Office of International Cooperation & Exchange were present at the meeting.


After the meeting, President Xu Ningsheng and Vice Chancellor & President Ian O’Connor signed a Memorandum of Understanding on behalf of Sun Yat-sen University and Griffith University respectively. Both sides agree to enhance educational and cultural exchanges, and provide more cooperative opportunities for students, faculty, staff and researchers.

On the same day, the delegation respectively held a talk with Prof. Qiu Rongliang, Dean of School of Environmental Sciences and Engineering, and Prof. Hao Yuantao, Dean of School of Public Health, reaching consensuses on student joint program, faculty exchange and research collaborations.

Griffith University was founded in 1971 in Brisbane, Queensland, Australia. As early as 1980s, SYSU and Griffith University signed faculty and student exchange agreement. Afterwards, the two sides signed collaboration agreements in civil engineering, public health and plant drug research, and conducted various exchange and cooperation in education and scientific research.