On the afternoon of August 3, the Nigerian delegation for the Chengdu 2021 FISU World University Games paid a visit to Chengdu University (CDU). Prof. Wang Qingyuan, President of CDU, welcomed Prof. Tanko Ishaya, President of the University of Jos in Nigeria, along with representatives from a total of six Nigerian universities and two sports associations. The meeting was held in the conference room situated on the second floor of the Academic Exchange Center of CDU.
Prof. Wang Qingyuan warmly greeted the visitors and delivered a comprehensive presentation on the historical background, core values, and strategic positioning of CDU. In addition, he highlighted notable achievements in the university's efforts to foster talent, develop unique characteristics, and promote international collaboration. He stated that CDU, as an urban institution highlighting practical applications, has made noteworthy strides in recent years. These advancements include impressive progress in the young university rankings, disciplines ascending into ESI global top 1%, and earning recognition on the Nature Index, along with frequent citations in high-impact research papers and good grades in student academic competitions. Prof. Wang emphasized CDU's commitment to international development. The university underscores the pivotal role of international collaboration and communication in promoting both talent development and discipline establishment. CDU continuously broadens its international cooperation network, currently boasting friendly partnerships with 177 higher education institutions from 40 countries and regions worldwide. CDU hopes that by establishing partnerships with African universities, it can foster a wider cooperative platform for talent development and scientific research between China and Africa.
Prof. Tanko Ishaya expressed his gratitude to CDU for its warm reception. He introduced the Nigerian delegation, which encompassed representatives from several institutions, including the University of Nigeria, Ignatius Ajuru University of Education, University of Benin, Adekunle Ajasin University, University of Lagos, and University of Jos, as well as delegates from the sports association of the University of Nigeria and the Nigeria Volleyball Federation. Moreover, he provided a detailed introduction to the University of Jos in Nigeria, covering its growth history and international collaborations. He noted that both the University of Jos and CDU, being young urban institutions, bear some similarities in historical background, missions, and visions. The two universities view international cooperation as a key development approach. He expressed his anticipations for both parties to carry out joint undergraduate and graduate student training programs, scientific research, and academic exchange and cooperation programs for faculty and students.
Subsequently, a memorandum of cooperation was signed by Prof. Wang Qingyuan and Prof. Tanko Ishaya. According to the memorandum, CDU and the University of Jos will jointly foster teacher-student exchange programs, talent cultivation, organization of conferences, and cooperative scientific research. This memorandum provides CDU with an opportunity to fortify its ties and collaboration with African universities, enabling the alignment of superior resources and contributing to improving its global cooperation network. The forging of the cooperative agreement between CDU and the University of Jos in Africa symbolizes CDU's first establishment of a friendly partnership with African universities. This move fills the gap in CDU's international collaborations. With this milestone, CDU's partnership network now truly possesses a global footprint, marking the commencement of a new phase in its developmental journey.
The heads of the Office of International Cooperation and Exchange attended the meeting.
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Established in 1975, the University of Jos is located in its namesake city of Jos, Nigeria. Currently, it has over 40,000 students. The institution offers undergraduate and graduate programs across seven colleges and 12 faculties on a single campus. These faculties cover a wide range of disciplines, namely, Agriculture, Arts, Health Sciences, Education, Engineering, Environmental Sciences, Law, Management Sciences, Natural Sciences, Pharmaceutical Sciences, Social Sciences, and Veterinary Medicine. The university campus also includes 15 student dormitories and over 100 student organizations, supporting an on-campus student population exceeding 11,000. Students have the choice to become part of six sports clubs and 32 sports associations, while also enjoying access to relevant recreational facilities.
The University of Jos was founded with the vision of fostering an interactive and innovative academic environment bridging urban and rural communities. With the noble responsibility of influencing the future perspectives and attitudes of its students, the university remains dedicated to delivering education that is globally competitive. This commitment allows it to meet contemporary employer expectations and respond to the development challenges faced by Nigeria and other nations worldwide.
