From 23 to 30 April 2017,? the 4th ACC-SEAMEO RIHED Study Visit Programme on Enhancing Higher Education Collaboration in the Fields of Foreign Language and Culture, Tourism and Hospitality, Tropical Agriculture, Tropical Medicine and Marine Science was conducted and successfully concluded in Hainan province, China, and co-organized by ASEAN-China Centre (ACC), Southeast Asian Ministers of Education Organization Regional Centre for Higher Education and Development?(SEAMEO RIHED) as well as Education Department of Hainan province.

This programme was attended by 15 delegates from the universities and Ministries of Education of Cambodia, Indonesia, Lao PDR, Malaysia, Myanmar, Thailand and Viet Nam, and led by the senior officers of SEAMEO RIHED. Ms. Kong Roatlomang, Director of Education, Culture and Tourism Division, and Ms. Huang Yingying, Education Assistant of ACC, accompanied the delegation for the whole visit and meetings.

The delegation visited 6 universities and 1 institution in Haikou and Sanya, namely Hainan University, Hainan Normal University, Hainan Medical University, Hainan College of Foreign Studies, Hainan Tropical Ocean Univerisity, and Sanya University as well as Xinglong Tropical Botanical Garden-Spice and Beverage Research Institution. The delegates discussed and exchanged views with the Chinese side on the in points of mutual interest and areas of future collaboration, for instance, faculty and students exchanges, joint cultivation of talents, short-term teacher training, Chinese language training, joint science research, etc., and both sides have shown strong wills of cooperation.

On 26 April 2017, the delegation attended a one-day seminar on Foster Educational Quality through International Collaboration: Academic Research and Exchange between Hainan and ASEAN, participated by more than 40 representatives from 19?universities and colleges in Hainan province. Universities from ASEAN and Hainan showed great enthusiasm to share comprehensive information of the respective universities of both sides and explored the possibilities for substantial cooperation. The in-depth discussions have enhanced mutual understanding and laid solid foundation for future collaboration and cooperation between?Hainan?and ASEAN universities. The?universities from both sides were also invited to attend the China-ASEAN Private Higher Education Cooperation Forum to be?hosted by?Sanya University at the end of 2017. Four MoUs have been signed between both sides during the visit.

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