On May 24, 2017, the 8-member delegation visited OUC from American Auburn University, headed by Prof. George Flowers, Dean of the Graduate School, Prof. Paul Patterson, Dean of College of Agriculture, and Prof. Bill Daniels, Dean of School of Fisheries, Aquaculture and Aquatic Sciences. OUC Vice President Yan Ju met with the delegation at Laoshan Campus before they had a discussion about the cooperation between AU and OUC.

According to Yan Ju, OUC values highly the cooperation with Auburn, the strategic partner for 10 years during which progress was made by scientists of both universities in the research projects they applied for together. An even better prospect will unfold with the AU-based Joint Center for Aquaculture and Environmental Sciences established by two universities. Yan Ju said that she was looking forward to more cooperation in students’ education in addition to joint researches.

Prof. George Flowers said that Auburn-OUC cooperation started from joint education of PhD candidates in the disciplines both strong at, with more effective cooperation expected at higher levels especially since the establishment of Joint Center in 2016. Auburn is committed to operating the Center well by ensuring the faculty and fund for better bilateral cooperation.

Prof. Dong Shuanglin, Co-Director of the Joint Center, hoped for more effective cooperation in running schools together after reviewing OUC-AU cooperation that features innovation in researches, joint education of PhD candidates and mutual visits of professors. Song Wenhong, Director of OUC International Office introduced the policies and access conditions on the curriculum and faculty of running Sino-foreign schools. She also answered the related questions.

More discussion was made about the details in cooperative education and joint researches. Present at the meeting were leaders from OUC Offices for Teaching Affairs, Science and Technology, International Affairs, as well as Graduate School and Fisheries College.

The annual work meeting and academic seminar of OUC-AU Center for Aquaculture and Environmental Sciences were held on May 25 at the Academic Exchange Center of OUC Yushan campus.

Translated by Liang Hong