Rector of the City University of Macau, Prof. Jun Liu, joined as a guest speaker in the virtual international forum held today by The Chronicle of Higher Education (based in the United States) and the Asia-Pacific Association for International Education (short as APAIE).
Rector Liu discussed the future cooperation among universities worldwide in the post-COVID-19 pandemic era in the forum themed at The Future of Global Partnerships. He pointed out good cooperation was found under close communication and connection, whereby mobility of students and teaching members were impacted by travel restrictions and negative emotions aroused from the long-term fight against the COVID-19 virus. He suggested that university leaders should start thinking about developing high-quality and in-depth cooperation while the travel restrictions dramatically reduced formal visits and field trips.
Rector Liu pointed out that the development of Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area demonstrated the significance of regional cooperation, which offered an opportunity for students and teaching members to broaden visions during the pandemic. As for international cooperation, Rector Liu suggested building an international consortium would be of great importance for universities in Macao and beyond. He explained that students could build up strengths and global visions from joint virtual programs developed by universities with common missions and tenets.
Looking ahead to the future partnership among global universities, Rector Liu suggested the international consortium could help universities find suitable partners to develop high-quality cooperation and expand their global connections. He also encouraged universities and international businesses to form a new cooperation model to carry out experiential learning programs, thus broadening students' horizons outside the classroom. Rector Liu said cooperation might not be just a tie between two universities.
Rector Liu suggested universities should leverage local, regional and international resources to exert strengths and complement one another to create a better learning environment for students. He pointed out that COVID-19 had impacted all universities' education models and elaborated the features and differences of students' performances between face-to-face classes and classes integrated with face-to-face and online teaching.
The guests participating in the virtual forum also include Prof. Joanna Regulska, Dean of Global Affairs at University of California at Davis in the United States; Prof. Sarah Todd, Vice President (Global) at Griffith University in Australia and President of APAIE; Prof. Michael Wesley, Deputy Vice-Chancellor International at University of Melbourne in Australia.
