DTU, Ningxia visitors
Research collaboration, exchanges top agendas as Danish and Chinese delegations visit
10:42 a.m., Dec. 14, 2015--Delegations representing two international institutions – the Danish Technical University (DTU) and Ningxia University – visited the University of Delaware earlier this semester.
In meetings across campus, UD faculty and staff met with representatives to discuss future research collaborations, study abroad opportunities and institutional partnerships.
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Professors and administrators from DTU, the largest university in Denmark for engineering education and technical science research, met with a multitude of UD faculty and staff. A number of UD centers also made presentations to the delegates, including the Center for Composite Materials, the Center for Bioinformatics and Computational Biology, and the Center for Carbon-free Power Integration.
Coordinated by the College of Earth, Ocean, and Environment, and hosted by Willett Kempton, professor and research director for UD’s Center for Carbon-Free Power Integration, the DTU visit focused on exploring additional partnership opportunities between the two universities, as well as broadening university-wide agreements.
Currently UD and DTU have nine established research collaborations across four UD colleges.
Kempton, who has partnered with colleagues at DTU on wind power and energy research, expressed satisfaction with the day’s program and optimism for the future.
"DTU has many high-quality departments in science and engineering fields, and has world-leading programs in wind power and electric vehicles, two areas of UD strength,” shared Kempton. “Exchanges of graduate students so far, in both directions, have been very productive. So it would be great to expand the UD-DTU exchange program, especially for students interested in renewable energy, science, or engineering.”
A member of the Global Engineering Education Exchange Program, (Global E3), of which UD recently became a member, DTU offers 800 courses taught in English. UD representatives are hopeful that partnerships with DTU could lead to outcomes of greater faculty mobility and a steady flow of students interested in project management and studying abroad.
The second delegation to visit UD included representatives from Ningxia University and the Ningxia Hui Autonomous Region in China. Coordinated by George Irvine, the assistant director of organizational learning solutions in UD’s Division of Professional and Continuing Studies, the visit centered on establishing joint research and exchange opportunities for faculty and students.
Founded in 1958 and located in Northwestern China, Ningxia University places great emphasis on learning the humanities and sciences, similar areas of focus for UD.
“After a series of fruitful discussions on campus, the possible areas of cooperation include Ningxia University students and staff studying at UD in various disciplines, scholarly exchange with the College of Agriculture and Natural Resources, interaction with UD’s Confucius Institute programs, and professional education programming with UD’s Division of Professional and Continuing Studies,” said Irvine.
During their day-long visit, Ningxia delegates engaged with representatives from the state of Delaware and a number of UD colleges and departments. A comprehensive campus tour included the Delaware Biotechnology Institute. Delegates also met with Jianguo Chen and Xiao Xiaoyan, directors of the Confucius Institute at UD, and later discussed professional training programs that are in demand in both Delaware and Ningxia.
“The visit to UD by a senior level delegation from Ningxia Hui Autonomous Region in China was a great opportunity to discuss possible areas of future cooperation between UD, Ningxia University, and the Ningxia Autonomous Region’s government,” said Irvine. “The fact that the delegation was led by Vice Governor Yao Aixing demonstrates Ningxia’s commitment to building a mutually-beneficial partnership with UD.”
About the Institute for Global Studies
The Institute for Global Studies was created in 2009 to enhance the international dimensions of teaching, research and outreach at the University of Delaware. IGS provides leadership and support for programs and experiences that contribute to the education of informed, skilled, open-minded citizens of the world.
Best known for coordinating the University’s study abroad program, IGS also awards scholarships and grants to faculty and students for a number of global opportunities and administers internationally recognized State Department-sponsored programs such as the UD Fulbright Initiative, Middle East Partnership Initiative (MEPI) Student Leaders Institute, Mandela Washington Fellowship Program for Young African Leaders, and most recently the Study of the U.S. Institutes for Student Leaders on Women’s Leadership (SUSI-WL) program.
IGS sponsors such signature events as Global Month each fall and country-specific celebrations each spring.
IGS collaborates with other global partners on campus, including the Office for International Students and Scholars, the Confucius Institute and the Center for Global and Area Studies. In addition, IGS partners with Enrollment Management to coordinate the UD World Scholars Program.
Those with interest can explore UD study abroad programs online, follow #UDAbroad and @UDGlobal on Instagram and Twitter, and attend an interest meeting to learn more.
Article by Jessica Franzetti
Photo by Nikki Laws