Media Releases 2004

25 October 2004

Australian component of AVCC-Chinese University Administrators' Shadowing (CHUAS) program 2004 underway

Australian Vice-Chancellors’ Committee Chief Executive Officer, Mr John Mullarvey said today that the AVCC was delighted to again be participating in the Chinese University Administrators’ Shadowing (CHUAS) program.

CHUAS is a component of the education and training development initiatives established under the formal agreement between the AVCC and the Chinese Education Association for International Exchange initially signed in 1998 and renewed in 2002.

“CHUAS was successfully run between 1999 and 2002 and provided opportunities for the senior leaders of universities in Australia and China to spend time studying first-hand the higher level administration and research leadership of their respective universities,” Mr Mullarvey said.

“This current program, assisted by funding from the Australian Department of Education Science and Training, will ensure the continuation of strategic and institutional links between the universities of both countries.”

Since 1999 a total of twenty-four Chinese Vice-Presidents have visited Australia and twenty-two Australian senior university administrators have visited China. The 2004 program involves a further 15 Chinese Vice-Presidents undertaking a program of activities in Australia over a three week period. This in-Australia component was preceded by a Higher Education Forum attended by eminent Australian and Chinese participants at Shandong University, in Weihai in July 2004.

“The in-Australia stage of CHUAS 2004 commenced on 25 October with the arrival of the fifteen Chinese university Vice-Presidents for an Orientation Workshop which is being held in Sydney and Canberra,” Mr Mullarvey said.

“Participants will also take part in a Research Workshop with members of the AVCC Deputy and Pro-Vice-Chancellors (Research) group that will focus on Australian and Chinese perspectives on issues of Research Training including joint supervision; international scientific research collaboration; and ways to take forward collaboration between Australia and China in areas of research. Her Excellency, Madam Fu Ying, Ambassador of the People’s Republic of China, senior members of the embassy, and DEST representatives will also participate in the workshop. In the evening, a dinner will be hosted by Madam Fu Ying.

“Participants will also interact with personnel from various AVCC member universities during their time in Australia. This is an extremely important and integral part of the CHUAS program.

“The establishment of firm friendships and the benefits of cross-institutional links that have been developed through the auspices of CHUAS are invaluable. The AVCC looks forward to the continuation and advancement of the program for many years to come,” Mr Mullarvey concluded.

Media Inquiries Tracey Jiggins – phone: (02) 6285 8206 or 0400 166691