Mr. Zhou who led a delegation of nine experts from the field of
education to AIT, volunteered to help promote AIT in China and stated
that there was a need to establish a mechanism of cooperation. Mr.
Zhou, who is also the President of Chinese National Council of Private
Higher Education, added that AIT could explore the concept of joint
programs, teacher training and as well as consider establishing a joint
campus in China. He revealed that the University of Manchester, New
York University and University
of Nottingham have already established close partnerships in the
field of higher education in China.
“Higher education is China is the largest in the world and it is still
expanding,” Mr. Zhou said, while adding that China is planning a second
wave of reform in higher education. There are more than 1300 private
colleges in China and AIT can cater to the growing demand of higher
education, he added.
Welcoming the delegation from China, AIT President Said Irandoust
described Mr. Zhou as a friend who is known for his innovative ideas.
He thanked Mr. Zhou for promoting AIT in China and added that AIT is
finalizing the concept for establishing a center in China. The
President complimented Mr. Qi Xinjian, AIT –Chinese student
representative for his active role in facilitating cooperation between
AIT and China.
Apart from Mr. Zhou, the delegation comprised of Mr. Li Cai, Vice
President, Qiqihaer Vocational College, Qiqihaer city, Heilongjian
province; Ms. Liu Qiuxia Liu, Vice Principal, Shaoxing China Textile
City Sentor High School, Shaoxing Zhejiang province; Ms. He Mei,
Project Assistant, APINIEVE-China Secretariat, East China Normal
University, Shanghai; Ms. Lu Rong, Director, Training Department,
Shanghai Pudong Institute of Education Development; Mr. Zhang Chi,
Union College, Beijing Normal University, Zhuhai Campus, Zhuhai,
Guandong Province; Ms. Xu Ying, Chief, Training Division, Beijing,
Foreign Affairs School, Beijing; Ms. Zhao Hong, Beijing Foreign Affairs
School, Xicheng District, Beijing; and Mr. Zhang Yidong, Director,
Office of International Education, North China Coal Medical College,
Tangshan City, Hebei Province.
The AIT team comprised of Prof. Worsak Kanok-Nukulchai, Vice President
(Resource Development); Dr. Jonathan Shaw, Director, AIT Extension; Dr.
Barbara Igel, Dean, School of Management; Dr. Mokbul Morshed Ahmad,
Associate Dean, School of Environment, Resources and Development; Dr.
R. M. A. P. Premanandana Rajatheva, Associate Dean for Undergraduate
Program; Dr. Pritam K. Shrestha, Head-External Relations and
Communication Office (ERCO); Ms. Wannapa Pliansri, Royal Thai
Government Relations Coordinator; Mr. Tenzin Rabgyal, Program Officer,
ERCO; Mr. Sanjeev Jayasinghe, Director, Fundraising and Dr. Gregory
L.F. Chiu, from Offshore Technology and Management (OTM).
AIT President Said Irandoust with the
delegation from China. Seen in the picture (from left to right ) are
Ms. Liu Qiuxia Liu, Mr. Li Cai, Ms. Wannapa Pliansri, and Prof. Said
Irandoust.