Photo taken at Abertay University
From May 17 to May 24, the LNU delegation led by Vice President Huang Wei visited educational institutions and universities in Germany and the UK for an exchange of experience in vocational training, discipline development, scientific research and talent cultivation, with a view to boosting LNU’s development through exchanges and cooperation. The delegation includes Director of the Music School Sun Jianhua, Secretary of the Party Committee of the Business School Li Gan, Managing Vice Chairman of LNU’s Labor Union Lin Yanping (the former Secretary of the Party Committee of the School of Continuing Education), Secretary of the Party Committee of the School of Education Science He Yunpeng and Vice Director of International Exchange and Cooperation Division Zheng Zhijun.
On the afternoon of May 17, the LNU delegation first visited F+U Education Group headquarters located in Heidelberg, Germany. Its Vice President Herbert Schlaeger had a discussion with our delegation. Mr. Schlaeger introduced Germany’s vocational training system and dual-system learning method. According to him, in most states of Germany, it is not allowed to provide vocational training through the Internet. The focuses of vocational training offered by the Education Group are economy-related sectors including banking, insurance and finance. Besides, the institution also offers information science, computer, sports, food nutrition and other majors. The dual-system learning method is a work-study mode (20 hours/week on theoretical study at school and 20 hours/week on internship at workplace). This approach aligns teaching and working, enables students to quickly master skills and knowledge and prepares themselves better for the society. Huang Wei pointed out that as the Chinese government values vocational education and teacher training, LNU has undertaken a large amount of training assignments for presidents and teachers for vocational education both at the national level and in Guangdong province. According to Mr. Huang, during the “13th Five-Year Period”, LNU will undertake more training assignments for middle school and primary school presidents and teachers with an ever higher requirement on the quality of training, which in turn raises the standard of training for all these educators. Mr. Huang proposed to cooperate with F+U Education Group to provide a joint training program under which presidents of secondary vocational schools and students of teacher training class have a short-time practical learning and training at F+U Education Group. In this way can they have an opportunity to learn the essence of vocational education in Germany, thus benefiting the development of vocational education in Guangdong and even across China. Besides, Mr. Huang also mentioned that as LNU might set up disciplines for the School of Tourism and Hospitality, special education, social work and other disciplines, teachers for these new specialties could be trained in the same way with methods including short-term theoretical study, practical learning and workshop at F+U Education Group and this would definitely bring benefits to these teachers. Other members on our delegation expressed their own views. Both sides also had an in-depth discussion on the training cooperation and agreed to have a closer communication and expedite the planning process, so as to achieve success in our cooperation in vocational training and other areas.
On the afternoon of May 18, the LNU delegation visited Hochschule für Wirtschaft Technik und Kultur Berlin (HWTK), a university under the F+U Education Group. Professor Hartmut Sangmeister and Director of International Exchange Division Antonia Fegeler had a discussion with the LNU delegation. First, President Sangmeister gave attendees an overview of the university. Although it was as near as 2012 when the university began to offer undergraduate and graduate programs, it rapidly developed into an institution to have three undergraduate programs and a program (Business and Organization) for graduate students taught in German, with Chinese students enrolled in these programs. The university plans to launch a graduate program taught fully in English for international students. With small-class teaching applied, a dual-system learning model is employed in its undergraduate education to help students look for internship opportunities, focus on the standardization and management of the internship, and ensure the quality of teaching. They believe that “trust is good but control and supervision are necessary”. Thanks to this model, the students are well prepared for the enterprises as students boast two years of working experience upon graduation and 70% of students were accepted by where they take their internship upon graduation. Vice President Huang Wei firstly expressed gratitude for the hospitality offered by President Sangmeister. He then introduced LNU’s educational achievements and pointed out that HWTK’s experience of rapid establishment of graduate programs is valuable for LNU. Both sides also discussed the possibility of cooperation and agreed to cooperate in offering business and other majors at both undergraduate and graduate levels. A “2+2” 4-year joint education can be offered to undergraduate students, with bachelor degrees of both universities awarded to students upon their graduation. An “1+1” 2-year joint education can be provided to graduate students. Under the “1+1” model, students who complete LNU’s undergraduate program study in LNU for a year, taking classes offered by LNU. Most of the classes in the first year will be taught by LNU teachers while HWTK teachers teach a small amount of classes and language lessons (German and English). In the second year, students study at HWTK with a master degree awarded by HWTK when they complete their study.
On the afternoon of May 20, the LNU delegation visited the University of Lincoln located in Lincoln UK, the third stop in this visit. Its staff including Executive President and Director of the College of Science Professor Andrew Hunter, Director of School of Computer Science Professor David Cobham and Professor Yue Shigang, Director of Lincoln School of Architecture and Design Professor Glen Mills, senior teacher with the School of Engineering Richard Allarton and Doctor Zhang Yu, and Director of School of Education Professor INN Ahrahams met the LNU delegation. Since both sides had in-depth mutual understanding from the previous three mutual visits, leaders of both universities talked open about cooperation and agreed on the following aspects: 1. co-establish in this year a Sino-UK International (Engineering) College in LNU, which offers in “1+1” 2-year or “2+2” four-year model at least three majors (such as computer, machine electricity and engineering design) if relevant policy allows, and plan to enroll students next year if possible; 2. establish as requested a research center for relevant researches on intelligent robot, chemicals of functional materials and automatic driving to co-submit projects for approval and cooperate in scientific research; 3. cooperate with each other in the offering of training for middle-and-primary-school presidents and teachers and in the research of scientific education; 4. offer an “1+1” 2-year graduate program, under which LNU’s outstanding third-year students study a part of graduate curriculum at LNU taught by LNU teachers and prepare for IELTS at the same time, with students up to the requirement accepted by the University of Lincoln to work for master degree upon their graduation. 5. establish a mechanism of mutual exchanges between scholars of both sides, under which LNU’s young and middle-aged excellent teachers have a one-year academic visit to the University of Lincoln. Both sides agreed that with a foundation for all-round cooperation, LNU and the University of Lincoln could start from mutual exchanges among professional teachers to steadily expand and extend the cooperation. Both sides expressed the necessity to look into the projects for cooperation and propose an action plan for a further move. After the meeting, our delegation visited the AI robot lab and the gas turbine lab co-founded with Siemens at the university.
On the morning of May 23, the LNU delegation arrived at the final stop of this visit - Abertay University in the city of Dundee, Scotland. With strong capability in the majors of Computer Games Technology and Computer Technology, Abertay University is the only higher learning institution in the UK with the two majors recognized officially and is honored as the first center for excellent computer games in the UK. The international competition of computer games design, which turns into a world-renowned competition, is held every year here. Before the meeting, the LNU delegation toured the campus, and labs and classrooms for computer design students under the accompaniment of the staff of Abertay University. During the tour, the LNU delegation learnt that at Abertay University, students from the fresh year learnt not only technology but also art creativity and business development in project teams, which are similar to the practical environment. During their study, students shall work with other students to develop at least three computer games. This practice-focused teaching model prepares students well for the society so they quickly adapt to the actual work environment and requirements after graduation. Abertay University took our visit and cooperation seriously. Its Executive President Professor Nigel Seaton met the LNU delegation. Leaders including Vice President Mark Batho, International Manager of the International Division Ms. Maria Law, Director of the Students Division James Nicholson had a discussion with the delegation. Both sides agreed on the following aspects: 1. mutual visit among scholars of both sides; 2. joint establishment in LNU of a research center for computer games; 3. an “1+1” 2-year joint graduate program. 4. exchanges of students at the psychological major. After the meeting, Huang Wei and Vice President Mark Batho, on behalf of each university, signed the Memorandum of Understanding between Lingnan Normal University and Abertay University. In the afternoon, the LNU delegation completed the entire visit and started the journey back home.
This visit to an educational institution and three universities in Germany and the UK allows Huang Wei and other delegation members to draw on German and British experience of vocational education and training and to have a discussion on cooperation, which generated outcomes higher than expectation. As this is the first year in the 13th Five-Year Plan period, the achievements from this visit will be of significance to future international cooperation that LNU seeks in discipline establishment, scientific research, talent development and education and training.
Photo of representatives of F+U Education Group taken after the meeting
Photo taken after meeting at HWTK
Vice President Huang Wei exchanges souvenir with Executive President Andrew Hunter of University of Lincoln
Meeting with Abertay University representatives
