‘Academics can prepare people for CPEC’

GCU, Chinese university sign MoU on student exchange

LAHORE: The China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) will have a significant impact on the society and culture of both countries. The academia should play a role in preparing the people of both regions for these changes, Government College University Vice Chancellor Hassan Amir Shah said on Monday.

He was speaking at a ceremony to sign a memorandum of understanding on student exchange between the GCU and the China University of Geosciences, Wuhana (CUG).

The VC urged the GCU students to benefit from the presence of Chinese students on campus. He said engagement with Chinese students could help GCU students learn about Chinese culture and language. He said the university would provide all possible facilities to its Chinese guests.

Under the MoU, 20 CUG students will participate in the annual summer school at the GCU’s Centre for Excellence in Chinese Studies (CECS). The visiting students will study courses on Pakistan Studies, English Language, Pakistan-China Relations among other subjects. Six GCU students will visit the CUG where they will remain in residence for a month and study courses on Chinese language, culture and economic system. The MoU states that the CUG would assist two GCU students in getting admitted to its masters of sciences (MS) or masters of philosophy (MPhil) degree programmes every year under the China Scholarship Council.

The MoU was signed by the GCU VC and CUG Institute of Environment and Conservation Law (IECL) Director Huang Delin.

CECS Director Khalid Maznoor Butt said that the geosciences department at the CUG was among the best in China. He said GCU students should benefit from the opportunity to visit the university and study at the department. He said the CECS was supporting research of several students on Chinese culture, history, political and economic system.

Butt said the MoU featured cultural and sports exchange programmes. He said students affiliated with the GCU’s Dramatics Club and Music Society would visit China to perform at cultural events.

GCU Academic Planning and External Links Director Fauzia Shaheen said the accord included faculty and staff exchange programmes.

CUG IECL Director Huang Delin said that the CUG would also look forward to collaboration on holding academic conferences and seminars.

CUG School of Public Administration’s Associate Professor Xiaqqing Xie and CUG Alumni Association Vice Chairman Lawrence Lu were also present at the ceremony. 

Published in The Express Tribune, December 8^th, 2015.