27th November 2003

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Deal builds links in biomedical science, tourism, business and finance

SHENYANG, CHINA: The University of Ulster has signed partnership agreements with two leading Chinese universities.

The first agreement, with Liaoning Normal University (LNU), has two strands: one focuses on biomedical research, the other on undergraduate degree programmes in hospitality and tourism management.

The second partnership, this time with Dongbei University of Finance and Economics (DUFE), puts in place joint undergraduate programmes in business studies, plus business finance and investment. There are also plans to develop e-learning programmes with Dongbei.

News of the two new alliances comes as a high level University of Ulster delegation visits China this week to stage special graduation ceremonies for its students, and explore new partnership opportunities with Chinese educational institutions.

Welcoming the new partnerships, University of Ulster Vice-Chancellor, Professor Gerry McKenna, who is heading the UU delegation, said:

"The agreements reached with LNU and DUFE will further strengthen the University of Ulster’s links with Liaoning Province. They will result in large numbers of Chinese students coming to our various campuses to study subjects such as biomedical sciences, biotechnology, hotel and catering management, business studies and financial management.

"The University has also agreed to partner with Liaoning Province to enable the development of online learning throughout China and to support the development of science parks. The partnership reflects the international standing of the University of Ulster in a number of fields which are crucial to economic development in the 21st century.

"As a regular visitor to China, I am greatly impressed by the pace of change and the commitment to the development of a high technology-based economy. There are exciting opportunities for Northern Ireland to partner with China for the mutual benefit of our respective communities."

Professor Bernie Hannigan, Dean of the University's Faculty of Life and Health Sciences, said "The Liaoning Normal University (LNU) agreement in biosciences builds on our mutual strengths, and will advance research in to bioactive natural products from local plants and animal sources.

"Already, work carried out in association with LNU on substances derived from a rare forest frog, native to the Dalian mountains, and other fungal and plant sources have shown potential anti-tumour and anti-hypertension effects. Other plants specific to the region have shown promise in the development of drugs for the relief of menstrual irregularities."

Working with the University of Ulster, she said, will enable Liaoning scientists to have access to powerful analytical technologies in UU's Northern Ireland laboratories that will revolutionise the investigation of these new and exciting biomedical substances, making it possible to complete in a day work which in the past would have taken up to a year.

"At the University of Ulster we can also synthesise artificial versions of the natural bioactive molecules: these can be patented to enable the manufacture of new life saving drugs."

On Wednesday, the University of Ulster conferred degrees on 50 postgraduate students in a special ceremony held in Shenyang, capital of China’s Liaoning province.

The students, who all studied courses at the University's Jordanstown campus, received the degrees of Master of Business Administration (MBA) and Master of Public Administration (MPA), in a ceremony held at the Liaoning People's Hall in the city.

For further information, please contact:

Press Office Department of Communication and Development
Telephone: 028 9036 6178
Email: pressoffice@ulster.ac.uk