“They See in SUSU a Reliable Strategic Partner”: the University Started Cooperation with a New Chinese University

South Ural State University keeps expanding the boundaries of international cooperation. Guangdong University of Foreign Studies and International Trade, whose delegation visited our university on May 24th and 25th, expressed the willingness to become a partner of SUSU for the first time. Representatives of the educational institution had a glimpse at the possibilities that SUSU can give to its students. Head of the SUSU International Affairs Division Olga Yaroshenko told us about results of the excursions and meetings.

— Why did Guangdong University of Foreign Studies and International Trade decided to cooperate precisely with SUSU?

— Delegation of the university came to visit because we have cooperation of various forms with more than 20 universities of China. They see in SUSU a reliable strategic partner who has a lot of experience of working with other universities. Now we have 147 Chinese students studying at SUSU. They are interested in cooperation with the Institute of Linguistics and International Communication; the delegation had an excursion around ILIC’s departments and laboratories, and saw its potential.

— What was of interest for the representatives of Guangdong University of Foreign Studies and International Trade?

— The delegation was interested in several programs that we implement with other universities of China, particularly in the exchange program, when each university selects an equal number of students who go to a foreign university for charge-free studying during one year. Also, the university was interested in the exchange education program for students of the 3rd and the 4th years of study. At the meeting we discussed the double degree program. It can be implemented in the model “2+2” or “3+1”: students of Guangdong University of Foreign Studies and International Trade will be studying at SUSU for two or three years and obtain two diplomas. Besides, the delegation got attracted by the possibility to organize summer and winter language schools at our university because such schools are very popular.

— What offers did the Chinese university’s delegation have in the frameworks of scientific cooperation?

 — They got interested in short-term and long-term cooperation for teaching staff, as well as vocational enhancement courses, joint publications and other possible forms of cooperation.

— What topics are of concern for scientific society of China?

— In the course of meetings, the delegation discussed questions of joint research of Arctic, Antarctic, as well as their cultural composition, ecology, resources, and sustainable development. This one of the possible ways for cooperation between our universities.

— How many students of Guangdong University of Foreign Studies and International Trade are planned to be sent to SUSU this year?

— We are already planning to start sending Chinese students for studying in summer language school. As far as we know, there are 10 students who want to start their studying at SUSU from September. But we think that after students get to know our university by the movies, brochures and presentations that we sent, the number of students willing to come is going to increase.

Azaliya Sharafutdinova; photo by: Oleg Igoshin
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