President Shandong University (China) visits Leiden University
On Friday 13 May, President Xu Xianming of Shandong University (SDU) visited Leiden. Leiden University and Shandong University have a long-lasting partnership, a co-operation that was recently reinforced by the setting up of the Confucius Institute in Leiden (CILU) during Prof. Van der Heijden’s visit to Shandong University on 7 April.
About Shandong University
Shandong University is one of the oldest and most prestigious universities in China, founded in 1901. SDU is located in and named after Shandong province, traditionally cited as the native land of the philosopher Confucius (551-479 BCE). Highly ranked inside China and internationally competitive, SDU is active in academic co-operation and exchanges with over 100 educational and research institutions worldwide. It is a comprehensive university with 60,000 students.
Prof. Xu welcomed in Leiden
Prof. Xu and his delegation were welcomed by Prof. Rietje van Dam-Mieras, Vice-Rector of Leiden University. After a board meeting of the Leiden Confucius Institute and a tour of Leiden’s Academy Building, the delegation was received at the Sinological Library by Prof. Barend ter Haar. Dr Oliver Moore informed the delegation about the activities of the Museum of Ethnology regarding China. Next the delegation was welcomed at the Faculty of Archaeology by Dean Prof. Willem Willems. Plans for future co-operation were set up with Shandong University Museum Director Prof. Fang Hui. The visit ended with a lunch, joined by Prof. Wim van den Doel, Dean of the Faculty of Humanties.
Shandong-Leiden partnership
Contacts have recently intensified, with new developments relating to the Confucius Institute (in Shandong-Leiden partnership) as catalyst. Leiden students of sinology have studied at SDU in the recent past, mostly for language acquisition. There are also contacts with the Leiden Faculty of Archaeology and Leiden Institute of Advance Computer Science.
During his Shandong University visit, Prof Van der Heijden signed the CILU Agreement, addressed SDU students and staff, and indicated that Leiden is open to exploring possibilities of student and staff exchange. Prof. Peter Ho (Leiden Institute of Area Studies) met with SDU economists and also explored possibilities for partnership in the MSc in Chinese Economy & Business.