SPbU strengthens ties with Sichuan province
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A delegation from the Sichuan Provincial Department of Education, led by Zhang Lantao, Deputy Secretary of the Education Work Committee of the Sichuan Provincial Committee of the Communist Party of China, visited St Petersburg University. The purpose of the visit was to strengthen academic cooperation, including the organisation of joint research projects and training programmes, student and faculty exchanges.
Valeria Malomuzh, Deputy Vice-Rector for International Affairs at the SPbU, welcomed the guests. She noted that the signing of a direct strategic cooperation agreement with Sichuan Province last year was an important step in developing the educational and scientific-technical potential of the University and the Chinese province. ‘Through our partnership with the province, we have been able to develop academic links with Sichuan University and other universities. This year a large number of university students attended our summer school and studied Russian language,’ said Valeria Malomuzh.
St Petersburg University is one of the first universities to sign a cooperation agreement with the Ministry of Education of the People’s Republic of China. At present, SPbU has more than 80 partners from the PRC in the field of education and science and is actively developing cooperation with educational organisations in various provinces. In addition to Sichuan, these include Heilongjiang, Shandong, Qinghai, Hunan and others.
Introducing the Chinese colleagues, Zhang Lantao, Deputy Secretary of the Education Work Committee, stressed that the interaction between St Petersburg University and one of the best universities in the province should become a good example of joint research activities for other educational institutions. ‘Our region ranks fourth in the country in terms of population and fifth in terms of territory, and has great potential for the development of China’s economy, science and education, so with St Petersburg University we have many opportunities for co-operation in various fields,’ said Zhang Lantao.
Representatives of the Sichuan delegation expressed interest in developing international communication among universities, increasing faculty exchanges and establishing language testing centres. Foreign colleagues also noted the problem of Chinese students’ insufficient knowledge of the Russian language when enrolling in Russian educational institutions. ‘St Petersburg University is a good source of education, but there are difficulties in understanding the language, so we want to create a joint programme to prepare students to come to Russia and study at the university,’ said the head of the delegation from the Sichuan Provincial Department of Education.
China’s current policy is to promote education abroad and the Russian language. We want more students to study in Russia.
Zhang Lantao, Deputy Secretary of the Education Work Committee
In addition, representatives from Sichuan Province proposed the establishment of joint education programmes under the dual degree model, so that students would have more academic opportunities and could freely use the university’s resource base.
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In addition to improving professional training and establishing student exchanges, the parties also discussed opportunities for research cooperation. For example, Li Dehai, vice rector of Southwest Petroleum University, emphasised the province’s willingness to work on joint projects in key sectors such as petroleum, medicine, innovative technology and natural resources.
Li Dehai is confident that the joint efforts of Southwest Petroleum University and St Petersburg University will not only advance scientific research in the industry, but also create innovative and environmentally sustainable approaches to natural resource management and introduce advanced technologies in the field of natural resource development and utilisation.
St Petersburg University trains highly qualified specialists in various fields, and our university is one of the best in the field of oil and gas technologies. We want to collaborate and work fruitfully with your research centres.
Li Dehai, Vice-Rector of Southwest Petroleum University
Wen Feng, Rector of the Sichuan Conservatory of Music, presented the possibility of establishing academic exchanges with SPbU in art and music, expanding interaction between art history departments, and developing new educational programmes in this field. Valeria Malomuzh, Deputy Vice-Rector for International Affairs at SPbU, told the guests about the Faculty of Arts, headed by Valery Gergiev, Artistic Director of the Mariinsky Theatre, and the research and academic programmes offered at the university.
SPbU is developing collaborations with Sichuan Province and has agreements with leading universities and research organisations in the region, including Sichuan University. This year SPbU also became a partner of Sichuan International Studies University.
In conclusion, both sides expressed their confidence that the partnership will promote the development of science, education and cultural exchange between the two countries.