PhD scholarships for China
16 Apr 2009, PR 73/09
King’s College London and the China Scholarship Council (CSC) have signed an agreement jointly to fund PhD students to pursue research degrees at King’s. The agreement was signed by Professor Rick Trainor, Principal of King’s, and Li Jianmin, Deputy Secretary-General, China Scholarship Council, today (16 April) in Beijing.As part of the agreement, successful applicants will receive a scholarship that covers the tuition fee and an annual living allowance that includes overseas student health cover, a return airfare to London and visa application fees.
Professor Trainor, who gave a speech at the Asia-Pacific Association for International Education (APAIE) conference at Renmin University of China on the role and future of international exchanges in higher education against the background of the global financial crisis, said on the agreement: 'I am delighted that the China Scholarship Council has joined with us to support Chinese research students of high academic merit to come to King's. I am confident that this experience will enrich the students' lives and further their own academic achievement.
‘These graduate researchers will make an invaluable contribution to King's international community of staff and students, and ultimately to China when they return after graduation to use their skills in the service of Chinese society. We look forward to warmly welcoming the new research students to King's and hope they will enjoy this special place in the heart of London.'
The agreement between King’s and the CSC will initially be effective for three years, after which it may be renewed. The proposed date of the first intake of PhD students is September 2010.
Strong links with China
The scholarships will strengthen King’s links with China and encourage even more collaboration between King’s and China. At present King’s has more than 400 students from China and Hong Kong, and King’s many partnerships with higher education institutions in China include the College of Pharmaceutical Sciences of Zhejiang University, Hangzhou; the Shanghai Institute of Materia Medica; the University of Hong Kong; the Chinese University of Hong Kong; Tsinghua University of Beijing; Renmin University of China; Fudan University, and Nankai University, Tianjin.
One of the College’s latest initiatives is the establishment of the King’s China Institute, under the leadership of Xinzhong Yao, Professor of Chinese Ethics at King’s, to encourage more British students to develop an interest in China, as well as to provide more academic support for Chinese students at King's. The Institute will pave the way for firmer links with Chinese organisations in education, the cultural and creative sectors, business and government.
Professor Xinzhong Yao is delighted with the scholarship agreement: ‘The collaboration with the China Scholarship Council is a very important step for King’s and opens up wonderful opportunities. King's has already established good links with higher education in China and the CSC-King’s scholarships will be yet another bridge linking King's and China. The interdisciplinary role of the King's China Institute will help students link up with academics in other departments in King’s, as well as those in universities in China, and facilitate access to organisations and businesses that can help in their research and further careers.’
More information on the King’s China Institute can be found on www.kcl.ac.uk/research/groups/chinainstitute.
For a copy of the Principal’s keynote speech at the APAIE conference, please contact Melanie Haberstroh, International PR Officer: melanie.haberstroh@kcl.ac.uk, Tel: +44 207 848 3076.
[Image by Phil Sayer]
ENDS
Notes to editors
APAIE
The Asia-Pacific Association for International Education (APAIE) is an international non-profit organization whose goal is to activate and reinforce the internationalization of higher education in the Asia-Pacific region and around the world, and to engage the professional challenges of individuals in international education.
APAIE is a constituent-led organization made up of individual members. It has a steadfast membership of more than 1,000 international education professionals - from professors to rectors to international exchange coordinators.
The 2009 conference, held at Renmin University of China, Beijing from 15 to 17 April, is expected to attract more than 1,000 attendees from over 500 institutions representing 55 countries.
King's College London
King's College London is one of the top 25 universities in the world (Times Higher Education 2008) and the fourth oldest in England. A research-led university based in the heart of London, King's has more than 21,000 students from nearly 140 countries, and more than 5,700 employees. King's is in the second phase of a ?1 billion redevelopment programme which is transforming its estate.
King's has an outstanding reputation for providing world-class teaching and cutting-edge research. In the 2008 Research Assessment Exercise for British universities, 23 departments were ranked in the top quartile of British universities; over half of our academic staff work in departments that are in the top 10 per cent in the UK in their field and can thus be classed as world leading. The College is in the top seven UK universities for research earnings and has an overall annual income of nearly £450 million.
King's has a particularly distinguished reputation in the humanities, law, the sciences (including a wide range of health areas such as psychiatry, medicine and dentistry) and social sciences including international affairs. It has played a major role in many of the advances that have shaped modern life, such as the discovery of the structure of DNA and research that led to the development of radio, television, mobile phones and radar. It is the largest centre for the education of healthcare professionals in Europe; no university has more Medical Research Council Centres.
King's College London and Guy's and St Thomas', King's College Hospital and South London and Maudsley NHS Foundation Trusts are part of King's Health Partners. King's Health Partners Academic Health Sciences Centre (AHSC) is a pioneering global collaboration between one of the world's leading research-led universities and three of London's most successful NHS Foundation Trusts, including leading teaching hospitals and comprehensive mental health services. For more information, visit: www.kingshealthpartners.org.
Further information
Melanie Haberstroh, International Public Relations Officer,
Public Relations Department, King's College London
Email: melanie.haberstroh@kcl.ac.uk, Tel: 020 7848 3076
This information is provided by the Public Relations Department
Tel: 020-7848 3202 Fax: 020-7848 3739 Email: pr@kcl.ac.uk