Director of the Liaison Office of the Central People's Government in Hong Kong SAR, Mr Wang Zhimin, said that UIC can provide plenty of support for the development of the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area during his visit to UIC in Zhuhai on 17 April.
After meeting with UIC staff and students, Mr Wang believed as the first tertiary education institute co-founded by a Mainland university and a Hong Kong university, UIC is exemplary amongst Sino-foreign and Mainland-SAR joint venture universities.
(From left) Ms Lilian Li, Prof Zhang Cong, Mr Zhou Huogen, Mr Chen Honghui, Prof Tang Tao, Mr Wang Zhimin,
Mr Liao Jingshan, Mr Guo Caiwu, Mr Sun Xiangyi, Mr Chen Zheyuan and Prof George Wei at UIC campus
UIC President Prof Tang Tao briefed Mr Wang and other guests about UIC’s mission, vision and educational philosophy, as well as graduate destinations. He said UIC will focus on developing faculty recruitment; international partnership; closer collaboration with local government, Beijing Normal University and Hong Kong Baptist University; undergraduate and postgraduate education; quality assurance; in addition to learning, research and industrial projects.
Mr Wang commented that UIC has built a stunning campus with an extremely limited budget but needs greater support from local government. He added that having become a “famous brand” of Zhuhai, UIC can introduce and recruit more high-calibre talent for both the College and Zhuhai with its strong education resources.
Mr Wang Zhimin meets with Prof Tang Tao
Mr Wang’s first port of call was UIC’s Learning Resource Centre (LRC). Deputy College Librarian Ms Fung Ying Cham introduced LRC’s student-oriented design concept and advanced facilities, including RFID Smart Bookshelves, Self-Check Units and a Book Sanitizer. Mr Wang praised its innovative philosophy, adding that the environment made him have an impulse to return to school.
Mr Wang praises the LRC's innovative philosophy
The guests then had a tour of the House of Shedao (Chinese archery). Shedao teacher Li Junyang guided the guests around the historical collections, and Year 1 Data Science student He Zeyuan, Year 1 Media Arts and Design student Deng Chenyang, Year 2 Food Science and Technology student Sheng Hanxingzi, and Year 4 Accounting student Zhu Maohua showcased the art of Shedao.
A visit to the House of Shedao
When Mr Wang asked the students why they chose to study at UIC, Deng Chenyang replied that UIC cultivates well rounded students, and Zhu Maohua revealed that he believes that UIC is an innovative college that has improved his communication and teamwork skills.
Mr Wang Zhimin encouraged Maohua, who has received an offer of Master of Commerce at the University of Sydney, to return to work in the Greater Bay Area and serve its development.
Mr Wang Zhimin asks Zhu Maohua about his university life
Highlights also included Mr Wang meeting UIC’s Hong Kong students and staff members at the Ceramics Studio. Assistant Facilitator Xie Jinlin and Year 2 Financial Mathematics student Xie Zihan treated the guests with tea at the self-made ceramic tea table.
Mr Wang Zhimin encourages the students to fulfil their potential in the Greater Bay Area
Applied Psychology graduate of 2015 Dai Jianjin spoke of how he and his fellow students from the Mainland created a work space sharing business that has expanded from Zhuhai to Guangzhou and Shenzhen. Their business was estimated to be valued at one billion yuan in recent financing. Year 4 Management of Human Resources student Chen Jianxi, Year 1 Culture, Creativity and Management student Li Junling, Year 3 Cinema and Television student Chen Jiaxi and Year 4 Social Work and Social Administration student Li Jiarui all shared their university experiences at UIC.
Mr Wang Zhimin said that the Greater Bay Area has opened up tremendous opportunities of education, employment and startups for young students, inspiring them to fulfil their potential.
Five Hong Kong students (from left) Li Jiarui, Chen Jianxi, Chen Jiaxi, Li Junling and Dai Jianjin share their experiences at the ceramic tea table
Accompanying Mr Wang was the Director-General of the Economic Affairs Department of the Liaison Office of the Central People's Government in Hong Kong SAR, Mr Sun Xiangyi; Director of the Hong Kong and Macao Affairs Office of the People’s Government of Guangdong Province, Mr Liao Jingshan; Chairman of the Zhuhai Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference, Mr Chen Honghui; Member of Zhuhai’s Party Standing Committee and Director of the municipal United Front Work Department, Mr Guo Caiwu; Deputy Director of the Taiwan, Hong Kong and Macao Affairs Office of Zhuhai, Mr Chen Zheyuan; and Deputy Director of the Administrative Committee of Zhuhai National High-tech Industrial Development Zone, Mr Zhou Huogen.
Also attending the meeting with Mr Wang were UIC’s Vice President Prof Zhang Cong, Associate Vice President Prof George Wei, Dean of the Division of Business and Management Prof Stella Cho, Assistants to President Ms Lilian Li and Ms Ashura Lam, Chief Student Affairs Officer Prof Johnston Wong, Associate Professor of the Division of Humanities and Social Sciences Dr Edgar Yuen, Director of Media and Public Relations Office Mr Chai Hi-Hing.
Reporter: Deen He
Photographers: Ivy Liao, Deen He
Editors: Samuel Burgess, Étienne Fermie
(from MPRO)
