From June 24th to 27th, the 2nd working meeting between Chinese members of Shanghai Cooperation Organization University (SCOU) on ecology was held at SDU. Along with the Secretariat of the Coordinating Council of SCOU, representatives from the Department of International Cooperation and Exchange of the Ministry of Education, Lanzhou University, Northeast Normal University and other coordinating higher education institutions were present at the meeting.

SDU Vice-President Zhang Yongbing opened the ceremony with a speech. Zhang mentioned that the programs offered by SCOU combines the strengths of different universities to expand opportunities for youth and provide them with quality modern education. Since this program will help SDU meet its goal to foster students with international vision, SDU will support and push forward the implementation of this program.

Topics mainly discussed at the meeting included a Master's degree program in ecology, the 2012 admission system and the program's annual work plan for the next year. After the meeting, the representatives visited the teaching and research base for SDU's ecology programs in Fanggan Village in Laiwu city.

SDU's membership in SCOU was approved by the Ministry of Education in August 2010. Since then, SDU has managed to cooperate with other SCOU member universities in ecology. At present, Lanzhou University and Northeast Normal University are working with SDU toward offering a joint Master's program in ecology. After the three universities work out specific training and enrollment plans, they will begin to conduct student exchanges with other universities who are part of SCOU.

Written by: Shang Xiaoyan

Photo by: IPOSource: International Office