China Platform at Ghent University

The China Platform is the coordination desk for all China-related matters, both in the fields of research and education.

Acting as a central, university-wide point of contact, the China Platform streamlines all mutual cooperation initiatives and the increasing incoming and outgoing mobility.

Since its establishment in 2006, the China Platform is the central body for consultation, support, discussion and policy advise concerning China. It also clusters knowledge and experience about the relevant region, on the academic, cultural, socio-economic and political levels.

Strategic Partnership

In 2008 the UGent China Platform signed a strategic partnership with the Province of East Flanders, the Flanders-China Chamber of Commerce (FCCC), the City of Ghent and the North Sea Port.

This strategic partnership streamlines the different initiatives towards China, with a view on presenting East Flanders as a region for innovation, science and knowledge.

Joining academic, political and economic forces has a very strong effect in China, and on the other hand it increases and improves the visibility of each of the partners individually. 

Beijing Representative Office

The cooperation with the province of East Flanders resulted in the establishment of a joint representative office in Beijing in 2008.

A local presence improves the visibility in China and enables a more efficient way of communicating with Chinese partners. The local representative facilitates and assists in incoming and outgoing mobility, provides assistance in prospective trips and visits, maintains a large network, is responsible for the dissemination of useful information and works closely together with the 4 Ghent University Chapters in mainland China.

Mr. Zhang Chi was appointed as the local representative in February 2015 (chi.zhang@chinaplatform.be) 

Steering Committee

A steering committee, represented by professors from different faculties, supports and assists in drawing the strategic policy lines. Prof. dr. ir. Luc Taerwe is Director of the China Platform and Mrs. Inge Mangelschots is responsible for the overall management of the China Platform within the International Relations Office (Inge.Mangelschots@UGent.be).

Structure

Ghent University already has 4 Alumni chapters in China.

In September 2013, Ghent University with its China Platform and China representative in Beijing launched the Ghent University Alumni Network in Shanghai and Beijing. For Ghent University, strengthening the relationship with its international alumni is a priority. China was the pilot project in the development of an international alumni policy. 

In the meantime, Ghent University already has 4 alumni chapters in China.

• The Beijing chapters covers the north of China: Beijing, Tianjin, Hebei, Heilongjiang, Jilin, Liaoning, Inner Mongolia, Shanxi and Shandong.
• The Guangzhou chapter covers the south of China: Guangdong, Fujian, Guangxi, Yunnan, Guizhou, Hainan, Hunan, Macau
• The Shanghai chapter covers the east of China: Shanghai, Zhejiang, Jiangsu, Anhui, Henan, Jiangxi
• The Chengdu chapter covers the west of China: Sichuan, Chongqing, Tibet, Xinjiang, Gansu, Ningxia, Qinghai, ShaanXi, Hubei

For the names of our 4 chapter ambassadors, please click here