The 3rd Forum of Higher Education on China-France- Africa French-speaking was inaugurated on October 29 in the conference hall of the Main Library of Wuhan University. More than 40 scholars from over 20 universities and government officials of China and France attended the forum via Zoom or on the spot. The objectives of the forum are exchanging viewpoints about the development of higher education and the cultivation of medical talents under COVID-19 pandemic, and facilitating trilateral communication and collaboration.
The forum guests
President Dou Xiankang appreciated at the opening ceremony that the teachers and students at WHU had overcome obstacles caused by the pandemic and embarked on online teaching and learning via different Internet platforms. In his speech, Dou mentioned that Renmin and Zhongnan hospitals, the affiliations of WHU, had spared no effort to fight against the pandemic in China. The doctors and experts from these two hospitals not only made great contributions in the battle against the virus, but also shared their experiences on virus testing and medical treatments with countries such as France, Egypt and Algeria via the Internet. At last, Dou expressed his desire for the sustainability of the forum.
President Dou Xiankang delivering the opening speech
After the opening ceremony, scholars delivered their keynote addresses entitled “The opportunities, challenges and corresponding measures for higher education during the pandemic” and “Medical talent training under the impacts of the pandemic”. They engaged in elaborate arguments concerning trilateral cooperation in tertiary education along with the changes in global public health. The forum came to an end amidst heated discussions. The participants looked forward to the theme reports on the following day with full confidence in the trilateral cooperation.
A combination of on-line and off-line meeting
The Forum of Higher Education on China-France- Africa French-speaking was initiated by Wuhan University to establish a shared community of higher education among China, France and African countries. The first forum was held at Wuhan University in 2017 and the second in Morocco in 2018. More than 30 universities as well as a number of scientific research institutions from China, France and Africa have been participating in the construction of the platform.
Photo by Zhan Chaoyue
Edited by Yu Jianan, Wei Yena, Li Yushan and Hu Sijia
