This year marks the 10th anniversary of the establishment and implementation of the China-Australia Executive Leadership Program (CAELP). In order to promote the further development of the program, China Education Association for International Exchange (CEAIE) and the Australian Embassy to China co-hosted a celebration in Beijing on October 30.

    Present at the occasion were Dr Hao Ping, Deputy Minister of Education of China, Dr Geoff Raby, Australian Ambassador to China, Professor Liu Bin, President of CEAIE, Dr Jiang Bo, Secretary-General of CEAIE, Mr Lin Zuoping, Deputy Secretary-General of CEAIE, and Mr Iain Watt, Australian Education Minister Counselor, etc. Over 50 participants, including university leaders from Tsinghua University, Peking University, Australian National University, University of West Australia, etc. and program officers from CEAIE and Australian Embassy to China, attended the celebration.

    The 10th anniversary celebration involved two parts, e.g. academic seminar and reception. The seminar was presided over by Dr. JIANG Bo and Professor Gu Binglin, Tsinghua University President. Mr. LIU Bin and Mr. Iain Watt delivered opening speeches. At the seminar, the participants carried out a heated discussion over two themes: ‘University Challenges - the Development Strategies for Mass Higher Education in the New Era’ and ‘New Thoughts for the 21st Century –Leadership of a University President’. New problems and challenges for today's university development were discussed at the seminar, including the quality standard for education, the judgment criteria for talents, the matching of university education and social needs, the reform of curriculum in higher education, equal access to education, the relationship between university and government, the application of modern technologies in universities, and the leadership capacity of university leaders. The participating university leaders explored ways to tackle these problems with an aim to encouraging China-Australia educational exchanges and cooperation, as well as promoting the reform and development of higher education in both countries.

    The celebrating reception was held at the Australian ambassador's residence. Ambassador Geoff Raby, Vice-Minister Hao Ping, Professor Liu Bin and Professor Ian Chubb, Australian National University Vice-Chancellor, attended the reception and delivered speeches. In their speeches, they all spoke highly of the achievements of the program for the past decade and expressed their wishes that the university leaders could use their experience and knowledge obtained from the project to contribute to the reform and development of both countries’ higher education. They also hoped that the project will continuously achieve greater development.

    Entrusted by the Ministry of Education of China and Australia, CEAIE and Universities Australia co-sponsored the China-Australia Executive Leadership Program in 1999. For the past decade, CEAIE has sent 60 university leaders from 42 universities across 24 provinces, municipalities and autonomous regions to conduct study tours to Australian universities. Meanwhile, 53 Australian university leaders led return visits to their Chinese counterparts. The total number of the program participants has hence exceeded 110 people. The program has not only established an efficient and convenient working platform for exchanges and co-operation between the universities of both countries, but also enhanced the management capability of senior administrators in higher institutions. The achievements of the program have been fully affirmed by the Ministry of Education of both countries and have received positive evaluation from the participating universities.
 

(By Department of Asian & Oceanian Programs )