The South China University of Technology (SCUT) in Guangzhou has awarded a visiting professorship to British Yorkshire-based Dr John Baruch, a senior lecturer at the University of Bradford, according to a report this morning by the Yorkshire Post.

It is hoped that the project will further strengthen ties between Guangzhou and Yorkshire in the UK. It may also open up opportunities for British students to visit Guangzhou’s SCUT on exchange programmes, and vice versa, though no details have yet been confirmed.

Universities in Guangzhou such as the Guangdong University of Foreign Studies (GDUFS), in Baiyun District, already offer such exchange programmes to its students, with links to around five British universities that allow their students to study for one year in the UK, and for the Brits to come over to Guangzhou for a year as well.

“The University of Bradford project is regarded as a world leader in generating innovation and creativity in schools which is why the Chinese first invited me to work with them,” Dr Baruch told the Post.

“China was initially popular because labour is cheaper, but China has built a very good infrastructure of railways, roads and ports. The Chinese are keen to work and keen to learn. China is putting an enormous amount of investment into linking itself to companies in other countries,” he said.

Professor Qian Huang of the South China Technology University also spoke with the Post. He added: “We are very pleased to work with Professor Baruch. The interaction of Chinese and Western science and culture is very dynamic and creative. His work with us and others in China in practical science is very welcome.”

Bradford is the UK’s top university for innovation in pharmaceuticals and chemicals, according to Dr Baruch. His goal is to get Chinese students in Guangzhou and British students in Yorkshire working together on future projects and sharing their ideas for the future.

“I want to link the Chinese students with the UK students so they think: ‘What can we do together?’” Baruch said.

On the topic of education in the PRD, The Nanfang reported last week on a new joint project between the Chinese Central Government and the University of Macau that represents a historical first for a case of this kind (joint governance).

Photo credit: TheConstructionIndex