The University of Sydney has renewed its partnership with the China Scholarship Council, continuing a research training program that supports high-quality PhD candidates from China to study at Sydney. For PhD candidates, the partnership provides an opportunity to join the University’s research community, work with academic supervisors and develop international research connections.
The program enables PhD candidates to either undertake their full studies at the University of Sydney and be conferred with a degree from the University, or to visit the University for periods up to two years as part of a research collaboration with their home institutions.
The renewed memorandum of understanding (MoU) was signed at the University’s Camperdown campus on Monday by University of Sydney Vice-Chancellor and President Professor Mark Scott, and China Scholarship Council Secretary-General Dr Wei Hu.
Professor Scott said the exchange of ideas and experiences is fundamental to research and education.
“We’re proud to continue working with the China Scholarship Council to facilitate shared learning opportunities and research collaborations. Our communities thrive through the diversity of thought and experiences that our students and researchers bring to campus. It’s through opportunities like this, that allow us to build connections across cultural and linguistic barriers, that we can tackle the biggest challenges affecting our global community,” Professor Scott said.
Dr Hu spoke highly of the 20-year partnership between the CSC and the University of Sydney at Monday's signing event.
The visit to Australia marks Dr Hu’s first overseas visit since taking office as Secretary-General in June this year. The University of Sydney was the first stop on his visit, highlighting the importance both sides attach to the long-standing partnership. Dr Hu also expressed his positive outlook for expanding cooperation with the University in the years ahead, creating more opportunities for students and scholars from both countries to learn, study and engage with each other.
The postgraduate research scholarship is available across the University’s faculties. The University and China Scholarship Council scholarships are competitively awarded providing tuition fees and a living stipend to undertake their doctoral research in Sydney.
The renewed agreement builds on longstanding links between the University and China across research, education, student support and alumni engagement.
For Sky Liu, a PhD candidate in the Sydney School of Architecture, Design and Planning, the scholarship has allowed him to explore how smart home technologies are becoming part of everyday care for older adults in urban China.
“I’m particularly interested in how these technologies reshape relationships between older people, family members, and care, and how we might design technologies that better support ageing at home,” Sky said.
Sky was first drawn to study at the University of Sydney because of its “strong academic reputation and its connections across the Asia-Pacific region, including Hong Kong, Singapore, and China”.
“Just as importantly, I have been very fortunate to work with incredibly supportive and caring supervisors, who have always supported me not only in my academic development, but also in my personal growth and life as an international student. My experience at Sydney has helped me grow as an independent researcher and know how to establish my academic profile and networking skills. The combination of research training, international collaboration, teaching opportunities has given me a strong foundation for pursuing an academic career in design and human-computer interaction.
“Beyond campus, I’ll always love Sydney’s outdoor lifestyle – the beaches, sunshine, and natural environment are incredibly appealing – and, as an international student, I’ve also really appreciated the city’s cultural diversity and inclusiveness, including its vibrant Chinese communities.”
Sky Liu is studying a PhD in the University of Sydney School of Architecture, Design and Planning with the support of the scholarship program. Image: supplied
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