As Queen’s celebrated its 175th anniversary, Jilin University celebrates an anniversary of its own with Principal Daniel Woolf in attendance.

The university invited all of the leaders of their closest partner universities to a celebration of their 70th anniversary in Changchun China.

Woolf explained in an email to The Journal that he delivered a speech on talent management and development in post-secondary institutions in Canada. He was also conferred with an Honorary Professorship by the President of Jilin University, Li Yuanyuan, while visiting. 

Since the partnership between the two universities began in 2011, it has presented a funded study for doctoral candidates at Queen’s through the China Scholarship Council.

In 2014, a study-abroad program was implemented that gave students from Jilin access to the Bader International Study Centre.

Most recently an agreement was formed that allows Computer Engineering students from Jilin to complete their last two years at Queen’s.

“The collaborations with Jilin help increase the diversity of our student body and advance other goals of the QUCIP, which in turn, advance the priorities outlined in the university’s Strategic Framework,” Woolf said.

In addition, Queen’s staff members have been allowed to complete short-term teaching assignments at Jilin.

In his email to The Journal, Woolf explained that a recently launched program called Canada Learning Initiative in China (CLIC) has led to an increase in Canadian students studying at Chinese universities.

“This two-year pilot project, which provides tuition, living and travel subsidies in an attempt to encourage more Canadians to study in China,” he said.

Twenty-three students will be participating in this exchange program this fall, with three of them being graduate students furthering their research in China.

“The future between Queen’s and Jilin University looks promising, as we continue to grow and to deepen our partnership,” Woolf wrote. “We hope to be able to increase the number of students participating in the academic programs outlined above.