The UNWE and The Shanghai Jiao Tong University Discussed The Opportunities of Joint Cooperation

The opportunities of academic cooperation between the UNWE and the Shanghai Jiao Tong University were discussed by the Managing Bodies of both universities. At the meeting attended the Rector of the university Prof. D.Sc.(Econ.) Statty Stattev, Prof. Dr. Valentin Goev, Vice Rector for Scientific Research Activity, Assoc. Prof. Dr. Stela Raleva, Vice Rector for Education in the EQD of Master and Distance Learning, Assoc. Prof. Dr. Milanka Slavova, Vice Rector for Education in the EQD of Bachelor and Lifelong Learning, Assoc. Prof. Dr. Paskal Zhelev, Secretary General for International Cooperation, Prof. D.Sc.(Econ.) Valentin Kisimov, Director of the Center for Computer Innovative Systems. By the Shanghai University party in the meeting took part Prof. Ma Dexiu, Honorary Chairperson of the University Council and Deputy Chairperson of the Committee for Education, Science, Culture, Health and Sport, Prof. Weigang Zhang, Dean of the School of Naval Architecture, Ocean and Civil Engineering of Shanghai University, Dr. Zhou Pei, Dean of the School of Agriculture and Biology of Shanghai University and President of the New Rural Development Institute, Prof. Shengquan Che, Associate Dean of the School of Agriculture and Biology of Shanghai University, Director of the Joint Research Center for Landscape Architecture, Deputy Director of Key Laboratory for Urban Agriculture at Ministry of Agriculture.

During the meeting

Prof. Stattev presented to Chinese guests the UNWE as a leader in the Bulgarian higher education, the university having the largest number of students in the country – 22 000 ones as he outlined the major professional fields and the work of the eight Faculties.

The Rector is presenting the UNWE to Chinese guests. On the right next to him: Prof. Ma Dexiu.

The Rector emphasized on the ten specialities in the English language as a good base for interaction between both universities. He formulated his idea about the cooperation and outlined the necessity of signing a Framework Agreement which would allow to be used the opportunities for mobility of students and lecturers of the Erasmus+ Programme. Prof. Stattev pointed out the ways of students exchange between both universities, the continuation of their education in the relevant Bachelor`s and Master`s degree programmes of both institutions and the acquisition of double diploma. The Rector outlined that there is such practice between the Nottingham Trent University and the UNWE so our university is ready for the quick implementation of that kind of cooperation.

During the conversations

Prof. Ma Dexiu expressed her admiration for the UNWE as the largest and the most prestigious university in Bulgaria. She presented briefly the Shanghai University and endorsed the idea of Prof. Stattev for cooperation in the major professional fields of both universities. The students exchange is not a new practice for the Chinese university – 60% of its students study abroad through full scholarship. Basing on her personal experience she commented on the opportunities for providing the financial part of education – through a scholarship or sponsorship by the business which would guarantee the joint cooperation.

Prof. Goev, Assoc. Prof. Raleva, Assoc. Prof. Slavova, Assoc. Prof. Zhelev, Prof. Kisimov (from the right to the left)

The participants in the meeting decided to sign a Framework Agreement of Cooperation between both universities in the autumn in Shanghai.

Handshake after the successful negotiations

Jiao Tong is one of the most authoritative universities in China. It is established 117 years ago and it is among the leading international research centers of Asian country. The name of Jiao Tong means “a harmony between the Heaven and the Earth”.

The Chinese university has 28 divisions, 26 institutes and 12 hospitals where study 16 000 Bachelor students and 27 000 Master and Doctoral students. Among the university lecturers there are 872 Professors, 18 members of the Chinese Academy of Science, 22 members of the Chinese Academy of Engineering and lots of lecturers are honored by national and international awards. The university offers 64 Bachelor`s degree programmes in nine fields of science – economics, literature, engineering, agriculture, medicine, management, arts, etc.