Vice-Rector Lilian Ferrer tours China as part of the 50th anniversary of diplomatic relations between the two countries

Fotografía de Tsinghua University.

From October 9 to 14, the Vice-Rector of International Affairs of the Pontifical Catholic University of Chile (UC Chile), Lilian Ferrer Lagunas, visited the People’s Republic of China in order to celebrate 50 years of diplomatic relations and collaboration agreements between universities in the country with UC Chile.

The meeting allowed the vice-rector to meet with authorities from Tsinghua University, Nanjing University and Nanjing University of Chinese Medicine , in order to strengthen existing alliances and begin discussions with a view to future collaborative projects.

“Through this visit we realized that we have a lot in common, working in the same way on aspects such as global competencies and internationalization at home (…) in addition, paths were opened to different opportunities for collaboration that can occur in the sense of research, internships, professional training, cultural exchange, student mobility and others.”

– Vice-Rector of International Affairs UC, Lilian Ferrer Lagunas.

The universities were interested in strengthening research and student mobility between both countries, emphasizing a deep interest in life sciences, geology, business, climate change, literature, astronomy, and others.

Furthermore, the UC Vice-Rectorate for International Affairs (VRAI), in conjunction with partner Chinese universities, has carried out collaborative work during the last few years to create programs and initiatives that reactivate academic and cultural relations between both countries after the closure of borders due to the health emergency.

Versions of the Talk2Me, Global Conversation, Summer University Program, Discover with UC programs, the Conecta Asia student community and especially the UC Confucius Institute, with Mandarin Chinese courses, Tai Chi workshops, cultural events and others, have been some of the initiatives that, from the work of the VRAI, reaffirm the relations between China and UC Chile.

Visit to Tsinghua University: strong interest in collaboration in the areas of health, arts, business, and astronomy

Visita a laboratorio de investigación de la Facultad de Ciencias de la Vida, Tsinghua University.

In an extensive conversation between the two officials, the value of their ongoing collaboration was highlighted through programs such as the Global Conversation “Chile | China Global Conversations About Arts & Culture.” They also shared interesting similarities in their agendas regarding internationalization at home, academic mobility, and global competencies , opening the door to further joint development in these areas.

Furthermore, Tsinghua University initiated significant work related to the development of the field of astronomy, highlighting Chile’s wealth in this area and the possibilities of collaboration with UC Chile in the creation of telescopes and research centers.

On Tuesday, October 10, Vice-Rector Ferrer visited the laboratory of Dr. Linqi Zhang, a professor in the Faculty of Life Sciences. Dr. Zhang expressed great interest in hosting UC undergraduate and doctoral students for internships. Both officials also agreed to explore areas of collaboration in research related to immunology, pharmaceuticals, and other fields.

In a meeting with the UC authority, Dr. Linqi Zhang highlighted his strong impression of and connection to Chile. In November 2022, Dr. Zhang was an invited international speaker at the immunology symposium “From the Middle Ages of Covid-19 to the Renaissance of Vaccination,” organized by the Millennium Institute in Immunology and Immunotherapy and the Pontifical Catholic University of Chile .

After visiting the Faculty of Life Sciences at Tsinghua University, Vice-Chancellor Ferrer met with Dr. Taotao Chen, a professor in the Faculty of International Economics and Management. Both Chen and Ferrer spoke highly of the Summer University Program , which allowed students majoring in International Business, Architecture, and Environmental Science at Tsinghua University to visit the campuses and research centers of UC Chile during August . They expressed their hope that UC students would repeat the experience and visit Tsinghua in 2024.

Prior to this visit, during the month of August, the Vice-Rector, along with the Director of International Development of the Vice-Rectorate of Research UC , Jorge O’Ryan, and the Director of the Confucius Institute UC , José Luis Parra, had a meeting with Dr. Taotao Chen, an opportunity that allowed the academic to get to know the Innovation Center and the UC Main House, where she showed great interest in the offer and advances in relation to entrepreneurship, innovation and business at the national level.

Visit Nanjing University: strengthening an academic alliance with more than 15 years of history

Vice-Rector Ferrer was received on October 12 by the Rector’s representative, Mr. Aijun Ding, at the Gulou campus of Nanjing University, located in the city of the same name. The relationship between the two universities is marked by a number of important partnerships and a history of more than 15 years of collaborative work.

Vicerrectora de Asuntos Internacionales UC, Lilian Ferrer, visita Nanjing University.

The meeting highlighted the Confucius Institute at UC and its 14 years of academic and cultural activity in Chile. The center emerged as part of an alliance between Nanjing University and the Pontifical Catholic University of Chile, initiating a series of ongoing interactions between the two institutions.

They also highlighted the significant milestone of the future Confucius House at UC, a workspace and learning center for the institute’s students and staff. The center is currently under construction and is expected to open later this year on the East Campus of the Pontifical Catholic University of Chile. The opening ceremony will be attended by representatives from Nanjing University and Phoenix Publishing at UC Chile.

There was also a strong interest in creating new collaborative workspaces, in addition to those already existing with the Faculty of Arts and the UC Confucius Institute, focusing on geology and climate change. They seek to strengthen their Institute of Earth Sciences through opportunities such as the dual degree program they established with the University of Helsinki, recognizing potential at UC Chile.

Following her visit to the Rector’s Office at Nanjing University, the Vice-Rector met with Dr. Weijie Zhang, Director of the Department of Hispanic Philology at the College of Foreign Studies. They discussed a significant opportunity to become international partners with the department in research, documentation, training, and data collection.

To conclude her visit to the Gulou campus, Vice-Chancellor Ferrer was received at the International Cooperation and Exchange Office of Nanjing University by the Deputy Director of the office, Ms. Jie Hu, and the Deputy Director of the Student Mobility Section, Ms. Yuxing Hong.

The authorities highlighted the significant number of UC students they have received at Nanjing University during the last 15 years of collaboration, emphasizing the postgraduate scholarships they grant through the UC Confucius Institute, and the China Challenge scholarships, which are awarded by the UC Vice-Rectorate for International Affairs to students who wish to learn Mandarin Chinese and visit China.

Visit to Nanjing University of Traditional Chinese Medicine: exchange of knowledge in acupuncture and obstetrics (midwifery)

Visita Nanjing University of Chinese Medicine.

The tour continued with an official visit to Nanjing University of Traditional Chinese Medicine. Both universities share the vision of developing a program focused on exchanging experiences and methodologies in the field of health.

Both Nanjing University of Chinese Medicine (NJUCM) and the Pontifical Catholic University of Chile have large specialized study centers that would be beneficial for the academic training of students from their various faculties.

While NJUCM is renowned as an international center for acupuncture collaboration, UC|Chile boasts the same high standards in midwifery. Authorities from the Chinese university, including Vice-Rector Ferrer, found it very interesting to create this knowledge exchange program and offer it jointly.

They also highlighted the idea of an exchange program where UC Nursing students would be exposed to the development of traditional Chinese medicine, while nurses from China would observe other forms of clinical practice. In this regard, Vice-Rector Ferrer emphasized the feasibility of the proposal, given that both schools share a holistic approach to healthcare.