Canadian University Press Releases/Newswire

Source: Wilfrid Laurier University
http://www.wlu.ca/news_update.php?grp_id=28&nws_id=2661&filter_type=update

The faculty of science signs second sequential degree agreement with Chinese university

November 6, 2006

The Faculty of Science at Wilfrid Laurier University continues to forge new links with top Chinese universities. On September 19, 2006, the Faculty of Science signed its second Sequential Degree in just over 5 months with another top Engineering school in China: Jiangsu University in Zhenjjiang, Jiangsu Province. In May of this year, a similar agreement was signed with Nanchang Institute of Aeronautical Technology. Under the terms of this new agreement, students from Jiangsu University's highly specialized Optical Electronics program in the Mechanical Engineering School will be able to transfer to Wilfrid Laurier University and complete their last two years of study for a Honours Bachelor of Science, Photonics degree.

The agreement was signed by the President of Jiangsu University, Dr. Yang Jichang, and Laurier's President Dr. Robert Rosehart. Dr. Yang led a four-member delegation to Laurier for the occasion that included the Dean of the School of Mechanical Engineering, the Chair of the Optical Engineering program and the Director of the International Office. The Jiangsu delegation while visiting Laurier also had the opportunity to meet with three of their students who entered the Sequential Degree program this September. The three students are Deqiang Wang, Bing Yang and Xuefeng Zhang.

"We appreciate this opportunity," says Zhang. "It’s a great chance to go abroad and learn something new and gain new experience."

"In China," explains Yang, "we don’t do so many things outside of the course lecture … there aren’t so many projects or assignments. Here, we have many more chances to use the knowledge we learned in lecture."

"Labs are great because they emphasize ‘do it yourself,’" adds Wang. "This kind of knowledge is very advantageous – to have practical experience."

"Also, it’s a great opportunity to practice our English," says Yang, "since we can communicate with native speakers."

During the summer months, the three plan to take some extra courses as well as explore Canada more by doing some traveling. So far, they have visited Niagara Falls during their orientation. After spending two years at Laurier, they are looking to apply for graduate school, probably in Canada or the US.

"One day we can work for a high-tech company or a research institute," says Yang. "I also think it’s a good idea to become a professor in university!"

The agreement represents the continued commitment and importance being placed on internationalization by the Faculty of Science. "The Faculty of Science is looking forward to further collaborations with Jiangsu University beyond this agreement," said Dr. Arthur Szabo, Dean of science. "Our discussions during the delegation's visit focused on the opportunities for joint research and the exchange of faculty members and students, including our Biochemistry & Biotechnology program."

Jiangsu University has close to 35,000 students and 4,400 faculty members. The university has 68 undergraduate specialties in nine Faculties: engineering, science, medicine, history, economics, management, law, literatures and education. There are 25 doctoral programs, 60 master's programs and five doctoral research stations. Jiangsu University is located midway between Shanghai and Nanjing in Jiangsu Province, the Chinese province which has a twinning program with the Province of Ontario.