UP partnership with NENU strengthened

UP’s Vice-Chancellor and Principal, Prof Cheryl de la Rey, with the President of NENU, Prof Liu Yichun.

The delegation included the Vice-Principal for Research and Postgraduate studies, Prof Stephanie Burton, the Dean of the Faculty of Education, Prof Irma Eloff, the Head of the Department of Education Management and Policy Studies, Prof Chika Sehoole, the Head of the Department of Science, Mathematics and Technology Education, Prof Max Braun and the Director of the Centre for Evaluation and Assessment, Prof Sarah Howie.

The partnership between UP and NENU is strengthening around staff and student exchanges and collaborative research projects – specifically in the fields of school leadership, quality education, school improvement, teacher professionalism and rural education.

During the visit, the UP delegation met with leading academics at NENU. They were welcomed by the President of NENU, Prof Liu Yichan, as well as the Vice-President, Prof Zhang Shao Jie. Further discussions included meetings with the Dean of Education, Prof Yu Wei, the Vice-Director of Education, Prof Chen Xin and the Director of International Co-operation and Exchange, Zhao Junfeng. He was joined by Zai-He An, the Associate Director of International Co-operation and Exchange.

Vice-deans Lu Li-jie, Gai Xiaosong and RunKai Jiao, and Heads of Departments Yang Yingxiu, Rao Congman and Wu Zhihui shared ideas about contemporary educational challenges during the extended meetings with the UP colleagues. Senior academics Liu Yi Chun and Ma Yun-Peng and the former Dean of the Faculty of Education, Prof Zhu Hong, also joined the discussions. The Director of the Institute of Rural Education at NENU, Prof Zhihui Wu, highlighted the importance of rural education, the excellent data base on rural education in China and the challenges of children growing up while their fathers are away earning a living for the family.