President Liu Jizhen Attended the Third Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) Member Countries “Borderless Education” Education Week

Publishing time:2010-05-25    Viewer:

The Third Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) Member Countries “Borderless Education” Education Week lasted from April 25 to 29 in Moscow. Representatives of 53 universities and colleges under SCO University from member countries---Kazakhstan, the People’s Republic of China, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan and Russia Federation---attended the conference. President of North China Electric Power University Liu Jizhen, Dean of Energy and Power Engineering School Xu Hong, Deputy Dean of Mathematical and Physical Science School Chen Lei, Deputy Director of International Cooperation Office Xu Lingling and some student representatives participated in the activity.

    Shanghai Cooperation Organization University, which was founded at Russian’s President Pugin’s suggestion on August 16, 2007 at the heads summit of SCO member countries, received unanimous agreement. In 2008, Russia proposed to set up SCO University, which is aimed at forming a university network composed of colleges and universities in SCO member countries, so as to strengthen education cooperation and communication as well as to promote student exchange. This proposal received consensus at the Education Ministerial Meeting, in which five priorities were also determined such as Energy, Ecology, Regional Science, Nano-Technology and Information Technology. NCEPU, owing to its discipline advantages in energy field, was chosen as one of the first 10 SCO universities, and as the leading university in energy of China by Ministry of Education. Other universities that posses discipline advantages and features in the above five areas include Peking University, Tsinghua University, Lanzhou University, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Jilin University and etc..

    On April 26, “Shanghai Cooperation Organization University---Multilateral Education Cooperation and Innovation Institution” International Conference was held. The conference was presided over by Russian vice Minister Friednov of Ministry of Science and Technology. After announcing congratulations from Ministers of Education, representatives from the five member countries summed up and reviewed the major task of SCO University in its expert training mechanism, credit and grades system, period of schooling, education level, language training situation, and experimental teaching programs. In the meantime, existing problems were put forward as well, such as the establishment of laws and constitutions, status of SCO University, budget problem, authentication of graduation certificate, entry and withdrawal mechanism of universities and colleges, coordination mechanism, and teaching methods which are all remained to be discussed and solved.  

    President Liu made a speech at the conference. He first summarized the achievements made by universities related with energy in China and briefly introduced NCEPU’s discipline advantages in energy power, and then expressed his wish to establish fruitful connections and cooperation with other universities. At last, he put forward four suggestions:

    First, to make joint efforts and seek cooperation fund relying on government and social forces

    Second, to bring relevant Russian colleges and universities into the cooperative framework

    Third, to strengthen connections among leading universities in member countries according to SCO framework so as to make the cooperation more effective and deal with more concrete matters relating to work

    Four, to reinforce language training among faculties and students with the purpose of smoothing out language barrier

    After agreements were finally reached at the conference, President Liu together with representatives from other 52 universities and colleges signed a cooperative memo in regard to the foundation of SCO University

    On April 27, representatives had a group discussion about preparations for SCO University. President Liu said NCEPU would offer utmost support for the cooperation; and he pointed out that SCO University should focus on absorbing excellent students, providing superior education resources and cultivating elite talents. Furthermore, by regarding high quality education management as its goal, the university should also adopt flexible operational and management mechanism with government playing a leading role in financial support. In this way, the goal of mutual recognition of credits and diploma will be achieved.

    It is agreed that SCO University would be an innovative network one. Fostering high quality technical, professional and cultural personnel calls for various educational and legal supports, and discovery of scientific and educational potentials. Such form will further communication among graduates and Ph. D candidates so as to promote multilateral cooperation. After the discussion, the summary of the Third Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) member countries “Borderless Education” education week was signed.

    In the afternoon, President Liu paid a visit to Moscow Power Engineering Institute and had a discussion with its president about program cooperation. Both sides hoped that SCO University would provide a platform for further cooperation in scientific research and talents training.

    Student representatives of NCEPU took part in the first International Forum on University Student “SCO University in the Eyes of University Students” on April 28.

    In the same day, Chinese delegation was received by Li Hui, ambassador of Chinese embassy in Russia. During the talk, ambassador Li confirmed that NCEPU, under the direct control of Ministry of Education, has made valuable contributions to the development of Chinese energy. In the end, he expected that NCEPU would enhance cooperation and communications with Russian colleges and universities, and expressed his full support.