Griffith Vice Chancellor and President, Professor Ian O’Connor received the award from the Hon.Tim Mulherin MP, Minister for Primary Industries and Fisheries in a ceremony at the Australia Pavilion attended by 120 representatives, including institutions and Government representatives from China and Australia.
The award recognises outstanding achievement in developing positive collaborations with Chinese institutions and industry groups.
Professor O’Connor thanked the University’s international partner institutions and Governmental support agencies, in both Australia and China.
“Griffith University’s history shows a long standing commitment to internationalisation,” Professor O’Connor said.
“Our founding Chancellor, Sir Theodor Bray, had a vision to establish Australia’s first School of Modern Asian Studies and cultivate good relations between Asia and its neighbours around the Pacific Rim.
Griffith University is cognisant that in developing collaborations, it is vital to engage with local, State and Federal Government agencies wherever possible.
“This partnership model is evident in most of what we do — whether it be the Australia-China Dialogues with Peking University and the Queensland State Government, or the Healthy Cities initiative with Shanghai and Hangzhou which involve regional and State Government agencies from both sides of the equator.
“This award recognises the contributions of our valued partners from both China and Australia, and their tremendous commitment to addressing global issues facing the region.
“I thank each of our partners and I look forward to our collaborations prospering for many years to come.”
Two Griffith graduates were also honoured with Highly Commended awards in the Alumnus of the Year- Research; and Higher Education categories respectively, for their academic success and outstanding work experience.
Professor LIU Qiyong, a 2006 Griffith graduate with a Master of Science in Public Health, who currently holds several positions within the Chinese Centre for Disease Control and Prevention, was recognised for his research in the sustainable management of vector disease.
Ms Ariel LUO Haiming, a 2007 Griffith graduate with a Master of Science in Public Health, was recognised for her role as the Vice-Chief Occupational Health Inspector at the Guangdong Institute of Health Inspection and for her work in drafting occupational health legislation and training using the skills she acquired at Griffith.
Griffith Business School student and South Bank Institute of Technology graduate, Jack Liu, won the Alumnus of the Year (Vocational Education and Training) award.
Queensland Education and Training International works in close collaboration with private and public providers to strengthen the international education and training industry in Queensland and ensure its sustainability.
For more information contact: International Relations, Ms Shelly Maller mailto:[email protected] or Ms Carlene Duffy mailto:[email protected]