On October 16, 2015, Oron Shagrir and Rafi Aviram, Vice President and Chinese Strategic Projects Executive Director, respectively, of the Hebrew University of Jerusalem (HUJI), visited Peking University (PKU).
Li Yansong, Vice President of PKU, extended a warm welcome to the university’s guests at West Xuan Lake Hall. Guests from HUJI included Michael Schwartz, Inter-provincial Affairs Director and Li Yifei, Officer of the Israeli Embassy. Also attending the talks were Deng Xingwang, Dean of the Xingwang Modern Agricultural College, and Chen Dayue, Executive Vice President of the School of Mathematical Sciences.
During the discussion, Li Yansong welcomed President Shagrir on behalf of PKU. He noted the long history of cooperation and friendship between PKU and HUJI, which had lasted for more than ten years since the first exchanging program. President Li introduced the progress on the construction of the “Green Ecological Union” project, and expressed his sincere gratitude for the support provided by HUJI. President Shagrir stated that he had heard a great amount of positive feedback from HUJI students returning from the Green Ecological Alliance Summer Camp in Guizhou. President Shagrir expressed his hope for continued cooperation between the universities on innovative personnel training, joint research, technology transfers, as well as other aspects.
Professor Deng Xingwang of the Modern Agricultural College gave a general introduction on the College’s current situation. He stated that the college had only recently been established, and full staffing of classroom teachers and training instructors had yet to be in place. In this regard, President Shagrir responded that he hoped for substantial cooperation between HUJI and the Modern Agricultural College on conducting scientific research in areas of mutual interest.
President Li Yansong noted the acclaimed School of Mathematics in HUJI, and stated that he hoped to promote the cooperation of the Schools of Mathematics in both universities. President Li introduced PKU and Ecole Normale Superieure’s (ENS) joint training program, where students go on to pursue a master’s degree in mathematics after completing their first three years of study at PKU. President Shagrir stated that, regrettably, HUJI undergraduate students were not provided instruction in English, however, the two universities could increase exchange in regards to a possible joint training graduate program.
At the closing of the discussion, President Li Yansong and President Shagrir signed an intercollegiate cooperation agreement on behalf of PKU and HUJI. The two parties exchanged souvenirs and posed for pictures.
Background: The Hebrew University of Jerusalem was the first university established in the Jewish nation, standing as a symbol for cultural revival in the ancestral birthplace of Jewish nationals. The Hebrew University of Jerusalem Israel (HUJI) is Israel’s highest educational institution, often called the “Harvard of the Middle East”. In addition to Mt. Scopus, the campuses of the Hebrew University of Jerusalem include the Edmond J. Safra Campus, Campus Rehovot, and Ein Karem. The University was founded in 1918 and completed in 1925, and is now a world-class university that offers a wide set of vibrant teaching and research resources to all its prospective students.
Translated by Mary Ma
Edited by Wei Yuchen
