A delegation from Shanxi Provincial Education Department, Shanxi Province, China paid a visit to the University of Mauritius (UoM) with a view to promote academic exchanges and educational cooperation between the two parties. The delegation presented the high-level universities and disciplines in Shanxi Province; notably Taiyuan University of Technology (TYUT), specializing in Science and Architecture; Shanxi University, specializing in Law & Philosophy; Shanxi University of Finance and Economics, specializing in Finance; Shanxi Agricultural University; and Shanxi Normal University. Shanxi University ranks 56th nationally and 433th internationally in the 2017 Natural Index rankings. Taiyuan University of Technology was selected among the top 400 in the “QS BRICs University Rankings” in July 2015. According to the latest statistics in March 2017, 6 disciplines in institutions of higher education in Shanxi province are among the top ESI 1%. They are: chemistry and engineering of Shanxi University, chemistry, engineering, and materials science of Taiyuan University of Technology, and clinical medicine of Shanxi Medical University.
The Vice Chancellor of the University of Mauritius presented the major areas of research of the six Faculties and four Centers at the university. There are several avenues which may be explored to help promote mutual academic exchanges and educational cooperation. The UoM reiterated its wish to expand and extend its facilities to more and more students nationally and regionally and for that matter, new infrastructure is vital. During the meeting with the delegation of Shanxi Province, the Vice-chancellor of the UoM discussed the possibility of setting up a Confucius Institute building at UoM with the support of Shanxi Provincial Education Department, the Peoples’ Republic of China. The Vice Chancellor hoped to have the new building on campus to also further academic activities of the university. The building may serve to:
- House incubators for research work between universities of Shanxi Province and the UoM;
- Accommodate overseas students of exchange programmes and/or volunteers of activities of the Confucius Institute;
- Offer conference halls and lecture rooms for mutual exchanges.
A Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on cooperation and exchanges, between the Shanxi Provincial Education Department, the People’s Republic of China and University of Mauritius, Republic of Mauritius, was signed on 12th May 2017.
Copies of the presentations and the MoU are available on our website (Restricted Access) under the “Services & Library” tab.
