Thursday 29 November 2018 8:42pm
Deputy Vice-Chancellor (External Engagement) Professor Helen Nicholson and Head of Food Science Professor Indrawati Oey at the Founding Assembly of the ‘Belt & Road’ University Alliance for Food Science and Education in China.
The University of Otago has signed an agreement with Jiangnan University in China establishing the ‘Belt & Road’ University Alliance for Food Science and Education (BRUA-FSE).
The Alliance, signed by 49 institutions and universities around the world including New Zealand’s Lincoln, Massey, and Auckland Universities, will serve as a platform for international collaboration on food science and education.
The Agreement aims to increase academic, scientific and cultural relations between members who will collaborate on matters such as training, research, entrepreneurship and faculty and student mobility.
"It will also give our food industry partners strategic advantage to access international experts, research facilities overseas, and potentially explore new international markets."
Deputy Vice-Chancellor (External Engagement) Professor Helen Nicholson and Head of the Department of Food Science Professor Indrawati Oey attended the Founding Assembly of BRUA-FSE and International University Presidents forum in Wuxi (China) for the signing.
The Alliance Agreement is a response to significant changes in the global food industry that faces new opportunities and challenges, formalising international connections to promote and advance the industry.
Professor Oey says the main benefit of the Alliance for Otago’s Food Science Department will be growing international networks and enhancing the global learning community that is important for both teaching and research.
“It will also give our food industry partners strategic advantage to access international experts, research facilities overseas, and potentially explore new international markets,” she says.
Professor Nicholson presented on the development of international education at Otago, which she says was an opportunity to share some of the exciting advances at the University in the area of education and pastoral support of students.
Earlier in November, Dunedin Mayor Dave Cull visited China to sign an agreement for friendly cooperation between Wuxi (China) and Dunedin on broader areas such as information technology, higher education and cultural exchange.
The signing of that agreement strengthens and provides further support for Otago’s future relationship with Jiangnan University.