Uni welcomes Chinese Consulate General Education Counsellor

Education Counsellor Mr Zhao Jiang was the guest of honour at the University’s Chinese Fresher’s event

DISTINGUISHED guests from the Chinese General Consulate in Manchester paid a special visit to the University of Huddersfield when they attended a celebratory event to welcome the year’s new arrival of Chinese students to Huddersfield, and the UK.

The Education Counsellor Mr Zhao Jiang was guest of honour at the Chinese Fresher’s Event organised by the University’s Chinese Students and Scholars Association (CSSA), invited by the current CSSA President and Research Fellow, Dr Zhen Tong.

The highly-popular Chinese Fresher’s welcome party is an annual event and includes an entertainment programme performed by current UK, European and international students.  There was an array of cultural performances including traditional dancing, singing, interactive activities and games.

The event also included a variety of presentations and speeches, including one from Mr Zhao Jiang.  He encouraged the new students to make the most of their time in the UK, not only in their studies, but in their whole student experience.

National University of Defence Technology visitors

Also enjoying the evening was Professor Wu Xiaosong, the Vice-Chancellor and Head of the Graduate College of one of the University’s leading partner institutions in China, the National University of Defence Technology in Changsha. 

Professor Xiaosong was accompanied by NUDT’s Dr Shengyue Zeng, a Huddersfield alumnus and a previous President of the CSSA.  Current President Dr Tong presented Dr Zeng with a certificate in recognition of the time he spent in the post.

CSSA President Dr Zhen Tong is a researcher at the University’s award-winning Centre for Precision Technologies.  Earlier that day, prior to the welcome event, Dr Tong arranged for the two VIPs to meet the Director of the Centre, who is one of the University’s most celebrated engineers, Professor Dame Xiangqian Jiang. 

The four discussed how the establishment of a new scholarship programme would be of benefit to the research outputs of both China and the UK.  A tour followed and the visitors were shown round the Centre’s award-winning research facilities, which are widely acknowledged as being some of the best in Europe.   

The guests heard how the Centre was awarded a total of £40 million to create the Future Metrology Hub.  Professor Jiang is the Hub’s Director and, under her leadership with the collaboration of over 29 industrial partners, the Hub will help to transform UK manufacturing.   

The University’s Pro-Vice Chancellor, International, Professor Dave Taylor, met the two visiting parties when he headed a tour around the University’s Student Central Building and he thanked the members of the Chinese Consulate General and the visitors from NUDT for attending.

“We are extremely grateful for the continued friendship and support of the Chinese Consulate in Manchester,” said Professor Taylor.

“It was a great pleasure to welcome Dr Shengyue Zeng back to Huddersfield and our Chinese students again did a wonderful job of representing their country and sharing their culture with others,” he added.