Global Consortium of Metropolitan Universities 2023 Annual Conference and Presidents’ Forum take place in Guangzhou and discuss university and city developments
To strengthen cooperation and exchange among members of the Global Consortium of Metropolitan Universities (GCMU) and promote sustainable development, the Global Consortium of Metropolitan Universities 2023 Annual Conference and Presidents’ Forum took place recently in Guangzhou. This year’s conference was hosted by Guangzhou University. The opening ceremony and the conference were attended by leaders of the member universities and other university representatives, including Prof. Jun Liu, rector of City University of Macau and chairman of the GCMU’s Executive Council, Prof. Minghai Wei, president of Guangzhou University, Prof. Jiyan Fu and Prof. Kaijun Wu, vice presidents of Guangzhou University, Prof. Reggie Kwan Ching-ping, provost of Hong Kong Metropolitan University, Prof. Xueji Zhang, vice president of Shenzhen University, Prof. Hongliang Gu, deputy secretary of the Party Committee of East China Normal University and vice president of the university, Prof.Yingfang Ye, deputy secretary of the Party Committee of Beijing City University, Prof. Weidong Shi, former president of Nantong University, Dr. Bian Jing, postgraduate lead of the Faculty of Liberal Arts and Sciences at the University of Greenwich, and Miao Zhou, director of the Confucius Institute at the University of Coimbra and executive director of the CASS-UC Centre of China Studies.
During his welcoming speech at the opening ceremony, Prof. Minghai Wei emphasized that with the theme of “University‧City‧Future”, this year’s conference provided a platform for member universities to explore the relationship between universities and urban development, learn from good practices, and discuss the responsibilities and cooperation models of the GCMU.
At the forum, Prof. Jun Liu delivered a keynote speech on “Metropolitan Universities: Rooted in the City, Serving the City, and Empowering the City.” He had pointed out that with the advent of the urban era, various urban disciplines such as smart cities, healthy cities, low-carbon cities, characteristic towns, and future communities had emerged, which had also driven the demand for professional and skilled talents. “Macao is a window and center for cultural and ideological exchanges between the East and the West. As the region with the highest population density and complete urbanization in the world, it plays an important role in the wave of anti-globalization,” said Rector Liu, and emphasized the university’s commitment to delve into city development studies and disseminate related research findings, using advanced educational concepts to promote the international dissemination of Chinese stories, and cultivating high-end talents in urban science, thereby building a research and talent development base in the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area. As an interactive speaker, Prof. Yingfang Ye shared the achievements of Beijing’s urban governance and the experience of the university’s service to the city’s urban development through its disciplinary strengths, using the development and relationship between Beijing City University and Beijing as an example.
Prof. Xueji Zhang delivered a keynote speech on “University and City – Innovative Integration,” using the relationship of joint effort to a shared success between Shenzhen and Shenzhen University as a starting point. He shared the university’s achievements in cultivating innovative talents for Shenzhen and the Greater Bay Area, cutting-edge scientific research, and serving Shenzhen’s urban development. As an interactive speaker, Prof.Weidong Shi started with Nantong University’s geographical location and introduced how Nantong University has served the city through its historical evolution and the university’s development overview.
Prof. Reggie Kwan Ching-ping delivered a keynote speech on “University and New Talent Cultivation,” discussing the impact of artificial intelligence on world development and how universities can help students navigate the challenges brought by AI and master its technology. He highlighted how Hong Kong Metropolitan University has reformed and adjusted its courses to meet the demands of talent cultivation in the AI era, and the university’s efforts in fostering students global thinking and global citizenship, and motivating them to have teamwork, social responsibility, and innovation spirit. As an interactive speaker, Prof. Hongliang Gu mentioned East China Normal University’s commitment to cultivating interdisciplinary talents through the dedicated training programs and courses in four key directions: thinking-oriented general education, cutting-edge-oriented discipline education, research-oriented faculty education, and building excellent schools to nurture innovative mindsets. He mentioned that university would continuously pioneer cultivation model to educator top-notch innovative talents.
Prof. Kaijun Wu delivered a keynote speech on “University and Innovative International Scientific Research Cooperation,” highlighting the support of the Guangdong provincial government for the development of university disciplines and scientific research innovation platforms. “In response to the needs of regional economic and social development, Guangzhou University has established a digital fund and a digital cultural cross-innovation platform, and has strengthened discipline construction in big data and cognitive computing. Additionally, Guangzhou University has jointly established the Alliance of Guangzhou International Sister-City Universities (GISU) with other international universities to strengthen the connection and exchange between Guangzhou and cities around the world and their local universities,” Prof. Wu said, and highlighted that the alliance’s objectives to provide member universities with shared international academic resources, encourage education and scientific cooperation, and steer urban development. Prof. Jun Liu, as an interactive speaker, stimulated more discussions on the “Alliance of Guangzhou International Sister-City Universities.” He highlighted that internationalization is a shared characteristic of the Alliance of Guangzhou International Sister-City Universities and the Global Consortium of Metropolitan Universities. He encouraged both alliances to have more exchanges in work experience, thereby helping each other promoting to further implement internationalization in all aspects.
In his concluding remarks, Prof. Jun Liu expressed his hope for the continuous improvement of the Global Consortium of Metropolitan Universities, where member universities can engage in multi-dimensional cooperation, explore the future prospects of cities and universities, and jointly cultivate international talents.
The second meeting of the Executive Council of the Global Consortium of Metropolitan Universities was held on the morning, with representatives from member universities attending the meeting. The meeting reviewed GCUM’s annual work, discussed the improvement of the charter, and put forward a work plan for 2024. Going forward, GCUM will continue to attract more mainland and overseas universities to join, hold annual meetings to enhance exchanges between member universities, and establish potential student exchange mechanisms to jointly cultivate versatile individuals with international perspectives.
The Global Consortium of Metropolitan Universities (GCMU) was initiated by the City University of Macau and co-founded by the Hong Kong Metropolitan University, Shenzhen University, and Guangzhou University. It aims to bring together globally renowned metropolitan universities, establish a network of innovative, applied, and international metropolitan universities, and promote comprehensive and sustainable academic exchange and cooperation among member universities. GCMU fully utilizes and leverages the strengths of its member universities to promote resource sharing, achieve complementary strengths, facilitate knowledge transfer, and jointly promote the sustainable development of higher education and their respective cities.