Sporting chance for BCU to forge closer links with Chinese counterpart

SPORTING links between Birmingham and China may have been strengthened by the sale of Aston Villa but another city institution is also basking in the limelight.

Birmingham City University got its place in the spotlight when it hosted a delegation of senior higher education leaders from China’s Guangzhou Sport University (GSU).

The visit, intended to strengthen the ties between the two institutions, was led by GSU President Professor Huang Zihua. It looked at exploring areas of collaboration in sport and exercise science, as well as media and journalism in the sporting sector.
 
The five members of the delegation were able to see progress on the £41m expansion to BCU’s City South Campus in Edgbaston, consolidating its Faculty of Health, Education and Life Sciences on to one site.
 
The space will provide teacher training and specialist facilities for health sciences including provision for research, a new lecture theatre, a multi-purpose hall, speech therapy, physiotherapy and ultrasound suites, art and technology classrooms and IT hubs.
 
Set to open in 2017, the expansion will also see the introduction of a wide range of new health, nutrition and biomedical science courses, including Sport and Exercise Science, Physical Education and School Sport, and Sports Therapy.
 
Prof Zihua, who has signed a Memorandum of Understanding with BCU, said: “I am very glad to be in the ‘heart of England’ and visiting Birmingham. Although boasting a long history, Birmingham City University is one of Britain’s most modern higher learning institutions in terms of facilities and is a vibrant, multicultural institution.

“I believe there is a great potential for cooperation between Birmingham City University and GSU, and I’m also hoping that our cooperation will be an in-depth one, ensuring that the fruits of a partnership will be greater.”
 
In recent years, the Chinese sports industry has developed rapidly and Chinese football in particular is flourishing, with Guangzhou Evergrande being the first ever Chinese club to participate in the FIFA Club World Cup.

As a result GSU has set up the first Football Academy in South China and Zihua said it was especially rewarding to be spending time in a sports city boasting such big footballing names as Aston Villa, Birmingham City and West Bromwich.
 
Established in 1956, GSU is Southern China’s only university specialised in sports that offers both undergraduate and postgraduate courses. Situated in central Guangzhou – a sister city of Birmingham – it has played a leading role in higher education and scientific research across China over the past 60 years. GSU boasts 46 world champions and seven Olympic champions among its distinguished alumni.
 
Prof Cliff Allan, BCU Vice-Chancellor, said: “We were delighted at the opportunity to share knowledge and experience with our friends from Guangzhou and we hope that from this visit we can establish teaching and research links around our complementary offerings in sport and exercise science.
 
“BCU is extremely proud of its close and longstanding engagement across China, including the contributions of our 2,400 Chinese alumni who now occupy senior positions in a wide range of organisations such as Hewlett Packard Enterprise, Jaguar Land Rover and Michael Kors.
 
“Meanwhile, here in the UK, our 800 Chinese students enrich our campus community, while our academics’ work in China enhances research and teaching collaboration.”