Calendar 2008–2009

The University 15 Part 1 International Links In pursuant to the University’s aspiration to become a leading university in China and the region, and the international university of choice in East Asia, the Office of Academic Links serves as the University’s international relations arm, forging alliances with international universities, institutions, foundations and governmental organizations. Most recently the Office of Academic Links played in leading role in the establishment of the Asia-Pacific Association of International Education, putting the University at the forefront of international education amongst other leading universities around the world. The University hosts over 150 visiting delegations from abroad each year, many such visits leading to collaborative teaching and research projects. Other frequent visitors, including Nobel Laureates, Consul Generals, eminent world scholars and figures, share their insights and wisdom with staff and students at the University as well as the general public. Senior officers of the University are active in promoting the University abroad. The Vice-Chancellor has led a number of delegations consisting of leading scientists to world preeminent universities to promote the University on the international front and to build collaboration in teaching and research. The Office of Academic Links coordinates all international partnerships and agreements at the University and is responsible for establishing a number of new international academic initiatives each year. The University has some 300 active agreements with institutions abroad, almost 50 of which were set up in 2007–08. The University has benefited from the support of various foundations for staff development, research, scholarships and exchange programmes. These include the Yale–China Association, the Harvard–Yenching Institute, the United Board for Christian Higher Education inAsia, the Fulbright Program, the Japan Foundation, the Wei Lun Endowment Fund Foundation, the Sino–British Fellowship Trust, and the Sir Edward Youde Memorial Fund Council. In addition to this, in 2007–08, the Office of Academic Links coordinated a number of fellowships and awards made available to the University’s teaching and research staff. Some of these were offered by the Eurasia Pacific UNINET, the International Association of Universities, University Mobility in Asia and the Pacific, and Utretch University. China Links The University has consistently developed academic links and research collaboration with educational and research institutions on the mainland and in Taiwan. Both the scope and the mode of exchange activities have expanded considerably over the years. A number of formal academic exchange agreements have been concluded by the University or its academic departments with various mainland and Taiwan institutions. These include memoranda for research collaboration, faculty and student exchange programmes, and joint academic activities. Major partners of n n