On November 7, 2024, the council meeting of the Alliance OF Guangzhou International Sister-city Universities (GISU) took place at Guangzhou University. Ouyang Qian, secretary of the CPC Guangzhou University Committee and chairman of the university council, attended the meeting and presented the Alliance’s work report for 2024. Participants included Scott Bowman, GISU’s Executive Chairman and President of Charles Darwin University, council members or authorized representatives from member universities, representatives from universities applying for membership, delegates from international and regional organizations such as the International Association of University Presidents and the African University Association, as well as representatives from government departments like the Foreign Affairs Office of the Guangzhou Municipal Government and the Guangzhou Education Bureau. Approximately 120 attendees participated in the meeting both online and in person, with Vice President Professor Fu Jiyang of Guangzhou University presiding over the event.
The event was hosted by the GISU Alliance and organized by Guangzhou University, with the offline venue set at the university's campus. The theme for this year’s meeting was “GREATER ENGAGEMENT AND GREATER HEIGHTS-Sister-city Universities Working Together to Promote Sustainable Urban Development” and included two main parts: a roundtable discussion and a council meeting.
In his opening remarks, Ouyang Qian pointed out that after nearly six years of development, the Alliance has become an important platform for connecting Guangzhou with global friendly cities and enhancing cultural exchanges, continuously expanding its "partner network." As of May 2024, the Alliance has 23 member universities, covering 21 major cities in 18 countries across five continents. In 2024, the Alliance launched over 40 exchange and cooperation projects in various fields, including joint research initiatives, student innovation and entrepreneurship, digital academy, micro-credential programs, and international academic seminars. The successful exchanges and collaborations reflect the Alliance's strong cohesiveness, innovative leadership, and commitment to sustainable development, showcasing the member universities' emphasis on international higher education cooperation.
Ouyang emphasized that the Alliance uses cities as a medium and thrives through constructing transnational and cross-regional university cooperation networks, breaking geographical limitations, and actively participating in the production and dissemination of global knowledge. The Alliance aims to optimize educational resource allocation through cooperation and establish efficient collaborative mechanisms, striving to become an "engine" for promoting sustainable urban development and connecting global knowledge systems.
During the council meeting, Professor Tan Ying'en from Western Sydney University announced the list of award-winning teams for the “5th (2024) Guangzhou International Sister City University Alliance Urban Innovation Student Entrepreneurship Competition.” Representatives from universities in Nigeria, the Czech Republic, Bangladesh, Mexico, and other countries made applications for membership, which were reviewed and approved by the council. Scholars from Coimbra University, Western Sydney University, Middle East Technical University, and Stellenbosch University presented reports on topics such as the integration of artificial intelligence and education, sustainable development and social responsibility, student exchanges among member universities, and research collaboration to address climate change.
Collective signing ceremonies were held among members of the Alliance, including Charles Darwin University, Coimbra University, Middle East Technical University, Guangzhou University, Guangzhou Medical University, Stellenbosch University, Durban University of Technology, Tunku Abdul Rahman University College, and Guangzhou Maritime University.
Before concluding the meeting, Ouyang Qian presented the "2024 Alliance Chairman Award" to Sibusiso Moyo, Vice President of Stellenbosch University, and announced that the 2025 GISWU Annual Meeting will be held in Darwin, Australia, hosted by Charles Darwin University.
Chinese