—WHU-Duke Research Institute is Established
On November 17th, the campus of Duke Kunshan University co-founded by Wuhan University and Duke University was officially opened amidst the jubilant gongs and traditional Chinese lion dances, accompanied by the unveiling of the vertical plaque bearing the Chinese characters of the name DKU, written in the style of Gu Yanwu, a Kunshan scholar dating back to the late Ming and the early Qing dynasty. Meanwhile, the WHU-Duke Research Institute at DKU, another joint institute between the 2 universities, was also established.
Liu Jingnan, President of DKU, mentioned that DKU is dedicated to making itself a demand-oriented and forward-looking academic program and research institute, with the aim of cultivating global citizens who are also profoundly aware of their own culture. The students fostered here are not only aware of their own cultural values, but also understand and respect other cultures. Through their work they not only serve China, but also the world. Prof. Liu Jingnan said, “DKU is not any newly-established university. More importantly, it shoulders the great responsibility of completing educational and scientific research undertakings that can not be accomplished by either Chinese universities or American universities alone.”
Li Xiaohong, President of WHU, noted that DKU has incorporated the wisdom and innovative ideas of many parties, embodying the reform and expectation of higher education in China. The cooperation between Wuhan University and Duke University is attributed to the fact that both are comprehensive universities with an international horizon and a common aspiration of establishing a world-class university. This cooperation marks a considerable headway of Wuhan University towards internationalization. WHU will honor its promise to support DKU to become a world-leading university based in China.
Richard Brodhead, president of Duke University, shared his feelings on the construction of DKU. He believed joint educational institutions between China and western countries not only echo the development trend of global economy, but also demonstrate the significant position of China in the world. He expected that this brand new international university based in China could provide educational opportunities that benefit students from diverse cultural backgrounds.
Cen Jianjun, director of the Department of International Cooperation and Exchanges at the Ministry of Education of PRC, described DKU as a new-born infant, noting that an infant’s growth requires nutrition, similarly, DKU’s development requires the trust and unity among the 3 parties in China and the U.S.. He believed that the establishment of DKU opened a new chapter in the Sino-US educational cooperation and is bound to create a new “school” in the effort of discovering new educational models.
WHU-Duke Research Institute, as a scientific research platform, will attract faculty staff and students from Wuhan University, Duke University, Duke Kunshan University and other places of the world to conduct cooperation in scientific projects of common interest. The Institute now has such disciplines as physical science, engineering, study on the transformation produced by the Chinese economic development, which are mutually supplementing the Village Health Institute and the global research agenda of DKU.
It is reported that DKU gained the approval of the Ministry of Education of PRC in September, 2013 and embraced the first batch of Chinese and foreign students in autumn, 2014. The total number of students comprised in this first batch is 103 and they come from 11 countries, including China. Now, it boasts 3 academic programs in medical physics, global health, and management science where a Master’s diploma from Duke University (U.S.) can be awarded. In addition, DKU also sets up an international study program to enroll undergraduate students from all over the world and grant them US academic credits.
Covering an area of some 200 mu (appropriately 13.3 hectares), the first phase of the DKU campus that has just come into use is located within the Yangchenghu Science Park, Kunshan. Its spacious and advanced architecture is full of contemporary features, giving expression to the combination of art and science, characteristic for the American culture, yet preserving the harmony between man and nature characteristic for the Chinese culture.
(Rewritten by Xueshuang Liu, edited by Diana & Sijia Hu)
