Recently, at the invitation of JAMK University of Applied Sciences (JUAS) in Finland, and University of Coimbra (UC) in Portugal, Zhang Qiang, Vice-secretary of the CPC Committee of Guangzhou University (GU), paid a working visit to two universities and did a special investigation on innovation and entrepreneurship education of Finland and Portuguese universities.
During the visit in JUAS, GU delegation led by Zhang Qiang was warmly welcomed by Member of Parliament of Finland, Madam Aila Paloniemi, Chairman of JUAS Board, JUAS President Prof.Jussi Halttunen and Vice-president Heikki Malinen. Representatives of JUAS introduced to GU delegates about the talents training system based on ability, the teaching quality guarantee system, the engine project of innovation and entrepreneurship education, activities in “the Innovation Week” for students and “Team College” for cultivating entrepreneurial talents. GU delegation visited the site of the Team College and had a live experience to its operation, knowing that JUAS not only aims to train students into employees, but into employers, and that higher education is not only education of professional skills, but education of attitude. After communication and negotiation, GU and JUAS reached preliminary cooperation intents on many aspects including joint cultivation on Masters of International Business Management, student exchanges, the Innovation Week instruction, special education, intelligence introducing programs and so on.
Found in 1290, UC is the oldest university in Portugal and was listed as the World Cultural Heritage by UNESCO in 2013. During the visit, UC Vice-president Prof. Joaquim Ramos de Carvalho held meetings with Vice-secretary Zhang Qiang, in which they expressed their contentment on the on-going cooperative programs and the shared expectation on future cooperation. GU delegation visited the Instituto Pedro Nunes (IPN) found by UC, one of the world-renowned incubators and the center for UC to develop technological innovation and knowledge transfer. Coimbra iParque, operated by IPN, is a science park built by UC. Many outstanding startups are born in UC with the help of incubating service provided by the science park, including Intelligent Sensing Anywhere (ISA), Critical Software which has built a cooperative relationship with Chinese government, Crioestaminal, Ciberbit, Feedzai and so on. Led by people in charge of IPN, GU delegation learned in details and experienced IPN’s advanced operation mode, distinguished achievement on incubating undertaking, and significant contribution on university innovation and entrepreneurship education. Members of GU delegation said that UC’s advanced experience in incubating undertaking has important inspiration and demonstration effect on GU’s innovation and entrepreneurship education.
During the visit, delegation led by Vice-secretary Zhang Qiang also attended the New Silk Road University Consortium Academic Conference jointly held by GU and UC entitled “Chinese and Portuguese Historical Relations in the Context of the Silk Road”. The conference has attracted 100 participants from different countries. Vice-secretary Zhang Qiang delivered a speech in the opening ceremony on behalf of GU. About 10 GU experts reported their academic papers in the conference.
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