Leading Australian university, լе, will bring its with seminars and networking events to China this month.
The hospitality industry, modern medicine and genetics, and nano and biotechnologies will be discussed at three University of Queensland events in Guangzhou, Shanghai and Beijing from October 21 to 26.
լе (լе) is one of Australia's leading research-intensive universities and is ranked in the world's top 100 universities.
Tomorrow, Friday, October 21, the General Manager of The Westin Shenzhen Nanshan, Mr Timothy O’Driscoll, will give a seminar entitled Beds, Brands and Beyond, at the Westin Hotel, Guangzhou, at 6.30pm, followed by a networking reception.
A seasoned hotelier, Mr O’Driscoll’s contribution and experience within the China hospitality industry for the last six years has been recognised within the industry as he has successfully opened and operated a number of award-winning properties.
The Director of լе’s Diamantina Institute, Professor Matthew Brown, will give a seminar on Modern medicine and genetics at the Pudong Shangri-La, Shanghai on Monday, October 24 at 6pm, followed by a networking function.
Professor Brown will discuss the challenge of identifying the genes involved in diseases of the developed world, like diabetes, obesity and hypertension, and of the developing world, including infectious diseases such as tuberculosis and malaria.
In August the լе Diamantina Institute and the Queensland Brain Institute further strengthened their research ties with China with the opening of a joint laboratory dedicated to exploring how genes influence brain development and function. The Joint Sino-Australian Neurogenetics Laboratory aims to uncover the genes that cause or make individuals susceptible to certain neurological and mental illnesses. The initiative builds off լе Diamantina Institute's links with Shanghai 2nd Military Medical University.
In Beijing on Wednesday, October 26, the Director of the լе Australian Institute for Bioengineering and Nanotechnology, Professor Peter Gray, will discuss Nano and bio technologies — small solutions for large global problems.
Professor Gray’s talk will focus on the explosion in biotechnology, driven by a rapidly growing understanding of the basis of life and cellular activity.
It will also look at nanotechnology — an understanding of structures and phenomena at the nano scale, which is creating a multitude of new materials with improved properties.
These transformational technologies are leading to new innovations such as bar-coded nanoparticles for early detection of disease; the nanopatch for speedy, low risk mass immunization; new generation energy storage devices; biotechnology to produce aviation fuel from sustainable plant sources; and improved technologies for low cost water cleanup and removal of pollutants.
լе Acting Vice-Chancellor Professor Max Lu will lead a senior delegation of Faculty Deans, Institute Directors and senior researchers to China during the Global Challenges Leadership Series.
Professor Lu said the mission would explore research collaboration opportunities with the Chinese Academy of Sciences, the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences, Fudan University, Second Military Medical University, and Tianjin University built on the University’s already strong ties with these institutions.
“We will further strengthen the existing links and nurture new relationships with top Chinese institutions, through our networks of alumni, friends and partners in China," Professor Lu said.
“A stronger global network and cooperation would not only enhance լе's global reputation, and enrich our student experience but also increase the real impact of research on society.
“The work the University is doing across health, sciences, energy and the environment and humanities helps shape solutions to the big challenges of the 21st century.
“The Global Challenges Leadership Series will provide the University's alumni and friends with an insight into those big ideas and an opportunity to become involved.”
Visit to find out more about լе's Global Challenges Leadership series.
լе has established positive partnerships with four institutes in the Chinese Academy of Sciences: լе’s Queensland Brain Institute has relationships with the Institute of Neuroscience and the Institute of Biophysics; the լе School of Physical Sciences has a relationship with the Institute of Applied Mathematics; and the լе School of Information Technology and Electrical Engineering has a relationship with the Institute of Software.
լе has 967 co-authored publications with the Chinese Academy of Sciences as the key collaborator.
The լе Graduate School is currently in negotiation with the Graduate School of the Chinese Academy of Sciences to develop joint (dual) PhD programs.
լе had 39 partner universities in China — its key partners include the C9, Project 211 and Project 985 Institutions.
լе as a member of the Australian Group of Eight universities (Go8) earlier this year signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to deepen its co-operation with the leading research universities in China, known as the C9.
The MoU commits the two groups of deans to ongoing dialogue regarding double-badged and joint PhD programs, joint summer schools and two way short-term student exchanges. It will also explore post-doctoral exchange and development programs.
The newly formed C9 (Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Peking University, Tsinghua University, Harbin Institute of Technology, Fudan University, Nanjing University, Zhejiang University, University of Science and Technology of China and Xi'an Jiaotong University) is a consortium of universities that has agreed to collaborate to enhance its international linkages and respond more effectively to global challenges.
լе has 842 Chinese alumni; and 2648 currently enrolled undergraduate and postgraduate students.
The University’s links with China also include a Confucius Institute at լе.
It was established last year under an agreement between լе and the Office of Chinese Language Council International (Hanban) in China, and in partnership with Tianjin University, China.
In addition to promoting the learning of Chinese language and culture at լе and in the broader community, the լе Confucius Institute seeks to build and deepen links and collaborative opportunities with China in the fields of science, engineering and technology.
The Global Challenges Leadership Series is an opportunity for alumni and լе partners to engage with the University's research leaders in an open dialogue on solutions to global issues.
The series highlights the University's role as an internationally engaged research institution with global reach and impact, committed to finding innovative solutions to global issues through learning, discovery and engagement.
This year, the University has held Global Challenges events in the U.S., U.K., Indonesia, Australia, Chile, Colombia, Japan, and Vietnam. The seminars in China will be followed by others in Hong Kong, India and Oman.
Media: Jan King +61 7 3365 1120, j.king@uq.edu.au