In response to the national strategic policy of culture-leading in “One Belt One Road” Initiative and to expand cooperation with higher educational institutions in the Arabic region, Professor Zheng Tongtao, President of Overseas Education College (OEC)/International College (IC)of Xiamen University (XMU) led a delegate to the United Arab Emirates (UAE) foracademic cooperation and exchange during July 11-15, 2016.
The delegate was warmly received by Mr. Abdul Basit,Chancellorof Preston University, An Hong, General Manager of Preston (Beijing) Education Consulting Co., Ltd. and Mr.Ahmed,Head of Language Programs. Representatives of Preston University welcomed the delegate and introduced theorganizationstructuring of Dubai Educational Site and the operatingprospective and progress of language programcooperation. President Zheng Tongtao introduced the history and teaching features of OEC and IC and their development in recent years. He mentioned that during 60 years’ practice in overseas education, OEC has been making the most of the distinctive advantages provided by XMU’s location in a special economic zone on the southeast coast of China facing the Taiwan Strait, and forming such teaching features as providing both domestic and distance education, long-term education and short-term training,degree and non-degree education programs and establishing overseas educational sites in the form of cooperation. He extended the wishes that both parties would make use of their advantages and join hands to cultivate comprehensive talents with international perspectives.
XMU Overseas EducationalCenter and Distance Education Cooperation Agreement was entered into between both parties during the visit. The delegate also had several panel discussions with educational consultants, teachers and management personnel of the other party regarding the proposed language program cooperation.
The delegate also visited the university town and knowledge zone in Dubai to conduct a field investigation on the environment, teaching facilities, dormitory and playgrounds, etc. They had panel discussions with personnel in charge to learn about the history, present situation, and developmenttrend of the university town and knowledge zone and relevant information about students’ study, as well as the prospects of both parties’ cooperation on language training programs and consequent education for students.
President Zheng and other members of the delegate conducted extensive conversations with people from local educational, business and cultural communities and overseas Chineseregarding the prospects and visions of academic exchange and cooperation. As UAE was a hub of ancient Maritime Silk Road and is an important stop of today’s “One Belt One Road” Initiative with 300,000 overseas Chinese, it is believed that the talents trained under the cooperated educational programs of both parties here willmake a difference under the global landscape.
Liu Qiang, Director of OEC Distance Education Department, and Huang Xiangshan, the staff member responsible for program management, accompanied President Zheng on this visit.
