Bulletin Summer‧Autumn 1993

Staff exchange brings overseas scholars to the campus, whose enthusi­ asm and energy help to enrich the University's academ ic courses. Staff exchange also gives University staff members the oppo rtun ity to participate in teaching and research activities overseas, enabling them to compare and contrast their w o rk w ith the best in the w o rld , and to continuously update their know ledge and expertise. C h in a L i n k s As a result o f China's open-door policy, exchange activities w ith educational institutions in China have also been stepped up. Formal exchange agree­ ments have n ow been concluded w ith over 20 universities in mainland China, including such famous institutions as Peking University, Tsinghua University, the Academ ia Sinica in Beijing, and Xiamen University. Each year the University receives hundreds o f academ ic visitors from China, w h o come to do research, give lectures, or attend development courses. Teachers o f this university also visit mainland institutions as honorary p ro fessors, advisers and consultants. I n t e r n a t i o n a l L i n k s The University's international character is further enhanced b y (1) the presence o f independent resource centres on the campus like the Universities Service Centre and the H ong Kong-America Center ； (2) long-term academ ic co l­ laboration agreements w ith famous institutions like Yale, Columbia U n i­ versity, and theJohns Hopkins University ； (3) the In te rn a tio n a l Asian Studies Programme (lASP), w h ic h was first established by the University in 1977. The lASP has b ro u g h t o ve r 1,000 undergraduates, graduates, and special research students from 30 d iffe ren t countries and 250 different institutions to study in CUHK. These students study Chinese language, attend other regular academic courses, and take part in a m yriad o f extracurricular activities on the campus. Many have thus developed a deep appreciation o f and respect fo r Chinese culture, and many have returned to live and w o rk in Hong Kong. C omm itte e o n A c a d e m ic L i n k s a n d O ffic e o f A c a d e m ic L i n k s To fu rth e r cu ltiva te lin ka g e s w ith universities abroad to facilitate staff and student exchanges, a Comm ittee on Academic Links was formed in 1991 to set long-term objectives and formulate policies fo r establishing and maintaining academic ties w ith major centres o f excellence w o rldw ide . The comm ittee, chaired by a pro-vice-chancellor, also helps to explore resources to support linkage activities. Prof. Charles K. Kao heads a CUHK delegation to visit Tsinghua University in B eijing. Regional a n d in te rn a tio n a l conferences are regula rly held on CUHK campus. lASP exchange students a n d local students 24