UIC inaugurated the UIC Hengqin Research Development Centre and the UIC Education Foundation in Hengqin New Area on 12 October.
(From left) Dr Xu Hong, Chairperson of the UIC Education Foundation; Ms Liu Jia, a member of the Standing Committee of the Municipal CPC Committee and Secretary of the Hengqin New Area CPC Committee; Mrs Pamela Chan, Deputy Chairman of the Hong Kong Baptist University Council; and Prof. Ng Ching-Fai, President of UIC
The UIC Hengqin Research Development Centre is another hallmark of educational cooperation between Hong Kong and Guangdong Province, and it is a prime example of how universities can make meaningful contributions toward local social and economic development while also promoting excellence in education and research.
The UIC Education Foundation is established to advance the quality of UIC’s education, and to assist in the development of the UIC Hengqin Research Development Centre and its research projects.
Mr Ye Zhen, Deputy Director of the Hengqin New Area Administrative Committee, stated that since its inception, UIC has built up a highly collaborative partnership with Zhuhai City. Mr Ye went on to explain that UIC has a vested interest in the future of Zhuhai City, and that the opening of the College’s research development centre was a product of “exquisite discernment” on the part of the college in anticipating Zhuhai’s future educational and research needs. He also credited an effective strategic cooperation framework that UIC and Hengqin New Area officials agreed to last year.
Mr Ye Zhen admires how UIC shows unique foresight in its contributions toward Zhuhai’s educational and economic development
Prof. Ng Ching-Fai, President of UIC, said, “The establishment of the UIC Hengqin Research Development Centre and the UIC Education Foundation is UIC’s latest initiatives to base itself in Zhuhai and serve Zhuhai.” He also revealed that the UIC Education Foundation is carrying out various projects to encourage education and research in Hengqin New Area. These projects include, most notably, promoting diversity and internationalisation of state-run basic education in Hengqin, and setting the foundation of a learning, research and industrial base in Zhuhai for food safety.
Prof. Ng Ching-Fai says, “UIC is always in pursuit of serving society with quality education, and strives to contribute to the social and economic development of Zhuhai by sharing various university resources.”
The opening ceremonies of these two events were also witnessed by Ms Liu Jia, a member of the Standing Committee of the Municipal CPC Committee and Secretary of the Hengqin New Area CPC Committee; Ms Cao Fengyun, Deputy Director of the Zhuhai Education Bureau; Mrs Pamela Chan, Deputy Chairman of the Hong Kong Baptist University (HKBU) Council; Mrs Doreen Chan, Treasurer of the HKBU Council; Prof. Tu Qingyun, President of Beijing Normal University, Zhuhai; Dr Xu Hong, Chairperson of the UIC Education Foundation; and many other external and internal guests.
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Based on Hengqin, the UIC Hengqin Research Development Centre was established by UIC and the Hengqin New Area Administrative Committee. It is intended to be a high-level, comprehensive and open-ended combination of industrial, research, learning and capital initiatives, radiating out to Guangdong Province, Hong Kong and Macau.
The Centre aims to become one of UIC’s most important bases of external cooperation, and to be a competitive base in Hengqin to incubate and industrialise scientific and technological achievements. Moreover, the Centre is designed to be a place that attracts capital and cultivates talented individuals from the fields of finance and management, especially those from Hong Kong.
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| At the ceremonies |
The UIC Education Foundation was initiated by UIC and Guangdong New Culture Investment Ltd., Co., with broad support from Prof. Xu Jialu, Chairman of the UIC Council; members from different councils of Beijing Normal University, HKBU and UIC; and other cheering well-wishers.
The Foundation intends to offer support to promising students from both elite and lower income families, promote Whole Person Education and greater internationalisation in Chinese education, and facilitate cultural exchanges between students and educators from China and other countries and regions.
It will mobilize and unite the strength of alumni and all sectors of society to integrate high quality domestic and foreign educational resources, improve the level of basic education in mainland China, and promote mutual cooperation between UIC Hengqin Research Development Centre.
Prof. Xu Jialu will serve as Honorary President of the UIC Education Foundation, Prof. Ng Ching-Fai as President, and Dr Xu Hong, chairman of the Board of Guangdong New Culture Investment Ltd., Co., as Chairperson.
Guests at the ceremonies
Reporter: Deen He
Photographers: Irene Yu and Deen He
(from MPRO, with special thanks to the ELC)
