From October 13 to 19, 2024, Mr. Liu Tiefeng, Member of HUHST Committee of CPC and Vice President of HUHST, led a delegation to visit Australia and New Zealand at the invitation of local institutions. Accompanying the delegation were leaders from the School of Materials and Environmental Engineering and the Office of International Cooperation and Exchanges. The delegation visited five universities, including the International College of Management, Sydney; the University of Sydney; the University of Adelaide; the University of South Australia; and the University of Auckland in New Zealand. The delegation also paid a visit to Consulate-General of the People’s Republic of China in Adelaide.

At Consulate-General of the People’s Republic of China in Adelaide, Deputy Consul-General Pi Lijun and Consul Yao Na warmly welcomed the delegation. During the meeting, Deputy Consul-General Pi provided an overview of the higher education landscape in Australia. Vice President Liu Tiefeng introduced the general information about HUHST, as well as its recent achievements in international exchange and cooperation. He also expressed HUHST’s commitment to exploring further cooperation with Australian universities and enhancing Sino-Australian educational and cultural exchanges.

(Meeting with Deputy Consul-General Pi Lijun)

During their visit, the International College of Management, Sydney, warmly welcomed the delegation. Vice President Liu Tiefeng held a meeting with Mr. Rowan Courtney-O’Connor (President and Managing Director), Dr. Stuart Wiggins (Vice President), Ms. Jackie Chang (Associate Vice President of the Institutional Alliance), and Ms. Natalie Watt (Director of the President’s Office). The meeting covered topics such as short-term and long-term student exchanges, faculty visiting programs, collaborative teaching and research initiatives, and campus cultural activities. After the meeting, the delegation toured the institution’s facilities, including the office buildings, teaching buildings, library, student activity center, and international student dormitories at its Sydney and Manly campuses.

(Group photo with Mr. Rowan Courtney-O’Connor (second from the right)

and Dr. Stuart Wiggins (first from the left))

(Meeting with representatives of the International College of Management, Sydney)

The delegation also visited the University of Sydney, the University of Adelaide, and the University of South Australia, where they explored campus construction and discussed topics like campus culture, talent cultivation, and faculty-student exchanges. The visit provided an opportunity for the delegation to learn from the advanced international education practices of these institutions.

(Delegation visits the University of Sydney)

(Delegation visits the University of Adelaide)

During their visit to the University of Auckland in New Zealand, Vice President Liu Tiefeng signed a memorandum of understanding for inter-university cooperation. He also held a meeting with Mr. Kenneth Holt (Business Development and Partnerships Manager at the university’s English Language Academy), and Mr. Pat Mao (Business Development Executive). The two sides summarized the results of a summer study program involving HUHST students and discussed ways to optimize and further promote faculty and student exchanges and academic cooperation. After the meeting, the delegation toured various faculties of the university to observe its academic conditions and teaching and research environments, including the English Language Academy, the School of Engineering, the School of Science, the School of Business, and the School of Arts.

(Signing the Memorandum of Understanding)

(Meeting with representatives of the University of Auckland)

The visit was packed with activities, yet fruitful. It not only strengthened HUHST’s ties with several prestigious universities in Australia and New Zealand, but also facilitated academic and cultural exchanges among Chinese, Australian, and New Zealand universities. These exchanges establish a strong foundation for future international cooperation and advance the development of our international education initiatives.

(Contributed by the Office of International Cooperation and Exchanges)