Institutions of higher learning in China and France should step
up their exchanges and cooperation in engineering education, said
an official with the Chinese Ministry of Education (MOE)?in
Beijing?Saturday.
Cao Guoxing, director of the ministry's Department of
International Cooperation and Exchanges, made the remark at a
ceremony for the signing of an agreement between 26 Chinese
universities, the network of French Engineering Institutes "n+i"
and French enterprises in China. The agreement aims to enhance
academic exchanges in engineering between the two countries.
Established in 2000, the "n+1" network is composed of 53
engineering institutes and schools covering various aspects of
engineering. Foreign students, including Chinese students, will
graduate with recognized master's degrees in engineering on
completion of their studies in France.
Paul Jean-Ortiz, minister-counselor of the French Embassy in
China, said at the ceremony that more Chinese students were
expected to pursue further studies in France. Enterprises can,
through cooperation with the network, provide scholarships for
foreign students, and help discover international engineering
talent, Jean-Ortiz added.
In 2003, the "n+1" network will enroll over 129 foreign
students, including 66 Chinese.
(Xinhua News Agency November 30, 2003)