XAUAT News Network— On the afternoon of 25 June, a delegation from the University of Canterbury, comprising Professor Saurabh Sinha, Executive Dean, Faculty of Engineering; Professor Stuart Parsons, Executive Dean, Faculty of Science; Dr Graham Wise, Director of International Development, visited Xi'an University of Architecture and Technology (XAUAT) to discuss preparations for the newly approved XAUAT–UC International Science and Engineering Institute. Representatives from the Office of International Affairs, An De College, and relevant schools attended the meeting.
On behalf of the University, Wang Chunmei extended a warm welcome to the delegation. She reflected on the collaborative efforts that led to the successful approval of the Sino-foreign cooperative education institution, noting that the establishment of the Institute is a significant milestone achieved through the shared commitment, expertise, and mutual trust of both universities. As the partnership enters a new phase, she expressed her hope that both institutions would continue to strengthen practical cooperation and work closely together to ensure the efficient implementation of all preparatory tasks for the Institute.
Dr Graham Wise expressed his appreciation for XAUAT's commitment and dedicated efforts throughout the partnership. He conveyed his confidence in the future development of the XAUAT–UC International Science and Engineering Institute, emphasizing that the University of Canterbury will use the Institute as a platform to further integrate its high-quality educational resources. He reaffirmed the University's strong support in faculty deployment, curriculum innovation, and academic collaboration, and expressed his expectation that the two universities would work together to develop the Institute into a flagship model of educational cooperation between China and New Zealand.
During the meeting, Xiong Zhongming, Executive Dean of An De College, presented the design and development plans for the new Institute. He noted that every effort would be made to create a learning environment that combines international standards with the distinctive strengths of both universities, ensuring an outstanding teaching, learning, and campus experience for students and staff alike.
The meeting not only further strengthened mutual trust between the two universities but also clarified the road-map and key priorities for the establishment of the Institute, laying a solid foundation for the successful launch of this new collaborative educational initiative.
