by Barbara Black

The Concordia administrators who visited China last month with Team Canada signed a number of significant agreements with institutions there.

The delegation was led by Rector Frederick Lowy, with the participation of Marcel Danis, Vice-Rector, Institutional Relations and Secretary General, and Dean of Arts and Science Martin Singer, who is a Sinologist.

Mohsen Anvari, Dean of Concordia’s John Molson School of Business was also in Beijing, where he presented information at an industry session involving Bombardier, SNC-Lavalin and Air Canada.

Pulp and Paper Industrial Research Institute: This agreement will focus on the bio-degradation of waste from the pulp and paper industry and the photo-bleaching of paper. More specifically, collaborative research will be aimed at environmental pollution issues, such as pulp and paper treatment, new bleaching technology, paper, chemistry and coating engineering. Another focus will be the development of new technology in the treatment of solid waste and agricultural residue.

Beijing Concord College of Sino Canada (BCCSC): One hundred and twenty students are expected to arrive next September as a result of this agreement, which will focus on the placement of Chinese undergraduate students at Concordia, and will explore the feasibility of transfer credit arrangements for BCCSC students who begin their undergraduate studies in Beijing. The agreement focuses on Web-based instruction, academic technology training and computer-based language testing.

Academy of Chinese Traditional Opera (ACTO): This institution, despite its name, also teaches modern music similar to that of Concordia’s Music Department. The agreement will include the development of academic co-operation with industry, and will include faculty and student exchanges for research and training. Concordia’s Faculty of Fine Arts will collaborate with the ACTO School of Fine Arts.

Hunan University (HU): This agreement will focus on engineering and computer science to promote collaborative research and academic exchanges. It will focus initially on areas in the field of building engineering, specifically, industrial interactions and sponsored research. One specific goal of the agreement is to establish a co-operative training program between the two parties, namely, the NU/CU Twinning Building Engineering Degree Program.

Beijing Normal University (BNU): This agreement with one of China’s oldest universities will focus on the training of students in educational technology. It will also explore the feasibility of both co-operation in the delivery of Web-based courses and programs and three-way co-operation with Beiing-Concord College of Sino Canada.

Nanjing University (NU): This university has both undergraduate and graduate programs. The agreement will focus on bio-inorganic and materials chemistry. It will include collaborative research, co-operation in the training of graduate students, exchange of undergraduate students and the development of Web-based courses in chemistry.

Southeast University (SEU): Concordia and SEU have had a relationship for 16 years, one of the longest standing with a Chinese university in Canada. This new agreement will focus on mechanical engineering, academic technology and information technology. It will also explore the feasibility of co-operation in the delivery of Web-based courses and programs in engineering.

City University of Hong Kong (CUHK): This agreement includes collaborative research, co-operation in the training of graduate students and the exchange of undergraduate students.
Beijing Film Academy (BFA): This agreement will focus on film research and studies, faculty and student exchanges and the sharing of views and academic programs.

The Concordia delegation also visited the Shanghai Film Animation Studio, an industry leader in China, and through co-operation with the National Film Board, showed Oscar-nominated films by Concordia animation students, faculty and graduates to an audience of about 70 people.
Dean Anvari was in Beijing to make a presentation to a group of Quebec and Chinese business leaders. He went on to Hong Kong to discuss the new MBA/CFA program with alumni, and met with counsellors in six high schools there.

Several weeks before the Team Canada junket, John Capobianco and Andrew McAusland made a preparatory trip to three of the Chinese institutions. They looked at research collaboration, student exchanges, and ensured a good fit with Concordia in terms of academic technology.
Dr. Capobianco is Vice-Dean, Research and International Relations, and McAusland is Director of Academic Technology, both in the Faculty of Arts and Science.