Thurso research centre forges links with China
SENIOR Chinese academics were treated to a full taste of the far north when they visited Scotland last week.
The delegation from the East China Institute of Technology (ECIT) was visiting the Environmental Research Institute at North Highland College UHI in Thurso to find out more about online courses and to explore the potential for collaboration in research.
The ECIT delegation was led by the university’s vice-president, Professor Hua Ming, and Professor Lu Renshen, its director of international co-operation and exchanges.
Delegates learned about the unique UHI collegiate model and ERI-led programmes in sustainable energy solutions and developing low-carbon communities. These include modules such as wind, wave and tidal energy that can also be studied as short courses. As these courses are delivered online they have the potential to be studied by students from anywhere in the world, including China.
As part of their visit to the far north, the visitors were treated to lunch at the college’s Burghfield House campus in Dornoch and then dinner at Flagstones in Thurso.
The professional cookery students who prepared the meal said: "This was a fantastic opportunity to showcase Caithness produce and demonstrate the ability of the student chefs to an international clientele."
Meanwhile, front of house was ably provided by students, giving them valuable experience of customer care with a bit of added cultural challenge.
The dinner was attended by Caithness civic leader Councillor Gail Ross, who added: "The visit is testament to the fantastic work going on at the ERI. We talked about many possibilities for ECIT and the college in the future, including more partnership working and even some kind of twinning between the two educational establishments.
"It’s certainly an exciting prospect, China is emerging as a major player on the world scene and both institutions have skills and knowledge that can be shared. I look forward to exploring all these options further and I thank the ERI for giving me the opportunity to help them do so."
Professor Stuart Gibb, director of the ERI, said: "As population and energy consumption increases on a worldwide basis, issues of resource limitation, energy security and the transition to a low-carbon economy have global resonance.These are challenges that face the people of China as they do those living in Caithness. It is therefore most encouraging that our courses are attracting such international attention.
"I am sure that we have laid the foundations of a sound working relationship with ECIT and its students and we look forward to working more closely with them in the future."
UHI and ECIT have further agreed to explore the possibility of joint taught programmes at postgraduate level and to investigate opportunities for collaborative research opportunities.
The delegation also took the opportunity to visit Loch Ness on its journey south – this apparently ranks very high on the "must-see" list of Chinese visitors to the UK.