EURASIA-PACIFC UNINET NEWSLETTER
Issue 1 / Spring 2007Eurasia-Pacific Uninet is pleased to present the first issue of its newsletter. Three to four times a year the newsletter will present you the latest news from the network.
ASSOCIATION FOR THE SUPPORT OF EURASIA-PACIFIC UNINET
In March 2006, the Federal Ministry for Education, Science and Culture, together with the Agency for International Cooperation in Education and Research of the Austrian Exchange Service (ÖAD), established the Association for the Support of Eurasia-Pacific Uninet with the goal of building a solid organizational basis for the network
The aims of the Association for the Support of Eurasia-Pacific Uninet are
- to support the coordination and extension of the international network Eurasia-Pacific Uninet and its member institutions
- to support scientific, economic and cultural relations between Austria and the target countries of the international network Eurasia-Pacific Uninet
- to support the process of internationalisation of research institutes at Austrian universities and institutions of applied sciences, within the framework of Eurasia-Pacific Uninet
The board members of the association are Univ. Prof. Dr. Brigitte Winklehner, president of EURASIA-PACIFIC UNINET, Univ. Prof. Dr. Alfred Ebenbauer, president of the Austrian Exchange Service (ÖAD), and Univ. Prof. Dr. Sigurd Höllinger, representative of the Austrian Federal Ministry for Education, Science and Culture.
Chief executive officer of the association is Dr. iur. Mario Kostal. According to the statutes, a scientific advisory council has to be set up. The main responsibilities of the scientific advisory council will be to consult representative bodies of the association in matters of strategic issues relating to goal achievement, and to establish a competent and reliable basis for decision-making.
WELCOME TO THE NETWORK. TWELVE NEW MEMBERS IN 2006!
Eurasia-Pacific Uninet is a constantly-growing organization, and we are proud to announce that in 2006 twelve new member institutions joined. We would like to take the opportunity in this newsletter to introduce our new member institutions.New member institutions 2006/2007
CHINA
Beijing Sport University, Beijing
East China Normal University, Beijing
Nanchang University, Nanchang
Xi’an International Studies University, Xi’an
Xi’an Jiaotong University, Xi’an
Sun Yat-Sen University, Guangzhou (March 2007)
Central South University of Forestry and Technology, Changsha (March 2007)
TAIWAN (China)
Chinese Culture University, Taipei
National Taiwan University, Taipei
Tamkang University, Taipei
NEPAL
International Center for Integrated Mountain Development ICIMOD, Kathmandu
AUSTRIA
Sigmund Freud Private University, Vienna
Paracelsus Private Medical University, Salzburg
Salzburg Management GmbH - University of Salzburg Business School (SMBS)
Alpen-Adria University, Klagenfurt (March 2007)
HAVE A LOOK AT: Sino-Austrian Center for Biomarker Discovery
The Institute of Analytical Chemistry and Radiochemistry at the Leopold-Franzens University Innsbruck, Austria has a long-lasting experience on the synthesis and application of different materials, surfaces and stationary phases for the analysis of biological and clinical relevant samples. Therefore the Peking University-Health Science Center, one of the leading universities worldwide in health science, invited the Institute to establish a joint institute, called Sino-Austrian Center for biomarker discovery in Beijing. This cooperation and the joint institute with the Health Science Center at the Peking University under the supervision of Professor Yang Ke and Prof. Günther Bonn were also enabled by the Eurasia-Pacific Uninet, represented by the President Prof. Winklehner.
Last year on the 25th of May 2006 the joint Institute could be opened in Beijing by officials from Chinese government and Elisabeth Gehrer, the former Austrian Minister for Education, Science and Culture.
The aim of this collaboration at the Sino-Austrian Center is to develop new analytical strategies and to find and identify biomarkers for different cancer types, starting with heptacellular carcinoma and prostate cancer.
Human hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is responsible for approximately one million deaths each year, mainly in sub-Saharan Africa and Asia. HCC has ranked the second highest cancer killer in China since the 1990´s. To develop fast and easy analytical tools is therefore of high interest.
Prostate cancer (PCa), on the other hand, is one of the most frequent tumor types in European male, whereas in Asia, especially in rural areas the PCa incidences are negligible low, which can be attributed to genetic differences but also to the nutrition and diet, decreasing the risk for the development of prostate cancer. Interestingly PCa also increased more and more in overcrowded areas of China which can be attributed to the environmental changes like a fast-paced life style or increasing consumption of fast food etc. over the past 15 years. These facts would be of high scientific interest to study the influence of nutrition on cancer development. Therefore it is planed to analyse blood samples recruited from Chinese men living in rural areas and compare them with samples retrieved from Austrian men as well as from Chinese men living in overcrowded areas to find some new biomarkers and to move forward in cancer research.
To further strengthen this fruitful cooperation, several meetings, conferences, scientific exchanges and opposite visits are in the planning process and will be held periodically to discuss with enthusiasm the progress of this collaboration. Especially young scientists from both countries should benefit from this programme. Therefore the Institute of Analytical Chemistry and Radiochemistry already invited four colleagues from Peking University for a training course for 2 month, which was held last autumn. In addition another young scientist, who finished the bachelor degree, will start in Mai 2007 a one year scholar-ship at the Institute of Analytical Chemistry and Radiochemistry.
(University of Innsbruck, Institute for Analytical Chemistry and Radiochemistry)
FACT-FINDING MISSION IN INDIA
On behalf of the Austrian Federal Ministry for Education, Science and Culture and in cooperation with the Austrian Embassy in India, Network President Prof. Brigitte Winklehner visited the following universities and institutions in India:
Government Medical College and Hospital , Chandigarh
Guru Nanak Dev University, Amritsar
Haryana Agricultural University, Hisar, Haryana
JNU – Jawaharlal Nehru University / Center for Biotechnology, New Dehli
Maharshi Dayanand University, Chandigarh
University of Madras, Chennai
Center for Cellular and Molecular Biology, Hyderabad
CSIR-Council of Scientific and Industrial Research, New Dehli
Gemmological Institute of India, Mumbai
Indian Institute of Technology, Madras, Chennai
Indian Institute of Science, Bangalore
LF Prasad Eye Institute (WHO collaborating center), Hydarabad
National Institute of Science, Technology and Development Studies, New Delhi
National Institute of Immunology, New Delhi
Postgraduate Institute of Medical Education and Research, Chandigarh
Planning Commission, New Delhi
University Grant Commission, New Delhi
It is planned to present possible Network members from India in the course of the Plenary Meeting of Eurasia-Pacific Uninet in October 2007 in Shanghai.
PARTICIPATION IN THE EUROPEAN HIGHER EDUCATION FAIR
The EHEF New Delhi – India 2006 was the second of a series of seven European Higher Education Fairs initiated by the European Commission for the years 2006 to 2008 to promote European Higher Education in Asia. The EHEF New Delhi took place from 24th to 26th November, 2006, at the Habitat Center in New Delhi. In collaboration with the Austrian Exchange Service (ÖAD), and with the support of the Austrian Embassy in New Delhi, Eurasia-Pacific Uninet had charge of the Austrian exhibition booth at the EHEF New Delhi.UPCOMING EVENTS OF EURASIA-PACIFIC UNINET
May 2-4, 2007, Vienna, Austria
Venue: Vienna University of Technology
"2007 International Symposium on Challenging Tunnel Construction"
The Vienna University of Technology and the Vienna University of Natural Resources and Applied Life Sciences, together with Eurasia-Pacific Uninet, are organizing an international expert symposium on challenging tunnel construction. This symposium is to continue the discussion started at the First International Expert Symposium on Undersea Construction in September 2005, Tongji University, Shanghai.
May 15-18, 2007, Yangling, China
Venue: Northwest Agricultural and Forestry University
International Conference: "Eco-Energies for Future Generations"
Eurasia-Pacific Uninet is pleased to announce the opening of the "Austria-China Research Centre for Environment Protection" at Northwest A&F University in Yangling.
In the context of the opening a conference will take place, organized through the joint co-operation of Eurasia-Pacific Uninet, the University of Natural Resources and Applied Life Sciences, Vienna, and the Northwest Agricultural & Forestry University, Yangling. The main focus of this conference will be on environmental topics such as
- biomass and biofuel
- hydro energy
- wind energy
- solar energy
- socio-economic and political issues
The aim of this conference is to present and discuss new technologies and solutions for sustainable development focused on renewable energies.
June 19, 2007, Shanghai, China
Venue: Austrian Center at Fudan University, Shanghai
Board Meeting of the Austrian Center of Eurasia-Pacific Uninet at Fudan University
June 20-21, 2007, Shanghai, China
Venue: Fudan University, Shanghai
Expert Conference: "China’s changing values and its impact on society, culture and economy – an east-west perspective"
The conference aims at creating a picture of how changing values in China influence society, especially in the booming cities. The leading question is to what extent a change of values within the generations can be identified in Beijing and Shanghai. It will be necessary to answer this question with respect to eastern and western concepts. Furthermore, the effects of this change in values shall be demonstrated by case studies and practical experience. Another goal of this conference is to discuss the role of the media in this change of values. During the conference we would like to clarify whether a major change is occurring in China’s culture and if "the west" is aware of the hopes, expectations and views of the people of China today.
July 2007, Vienna / Salzburg / Brussels
Chinese-Austrian EU Summer School 2007
Students of Chinese partner universities of Eurasia-Pacific Uninet have the opportunity to participate in a study program of several weeks duration, which gives the students a first impression of European culture and economy.
For further information please contact: Sigrid.Steinschaden(at)sbg.ac.at
August / September 2007, Beijing Shanghai
China Know-How – Summer Schools in China
Intensive summer programs in the People’s Republic of China: as in the past seven years, Eurasia-Pacific Uninet is again organizing scientific programs during August/September 2007 for students from Austrian universities or other institutes of higher education, as well as for employees of international companies.
The first program (Course A, Modern China Studies for Scientists and Economists) focuses on topics such as economics, politics, law, culture and cross-cultural management in modern China. The units are conducted in English and use a variety of modules. In addition, discussions with teams of experts and visits to joint-venture companies are included in this program. The second program (Course B, Chinese Language and Cultural Studies) focuses on acquiring and deepening knowledge of Chinese language and cultural skills.
Deadline for applications: May 25, 2007 (postmark)
For further information and applications please go to:
September 16-17, 2007, Beijing, China
Venue: China Academy of Chinese Medical Sciences
Workshop "Cooperation between the Austrian TCM Research Cluster and the Sino-Austrian Center for TCM"
Chinese and Austrian scientists are working on the establishment of Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) platforms in China and Austria, which will be linked to each other through academic exchanges and through joint projects in this field. The planned workshop at the China Academy of Chinese Medical Sciences aims at defining and discussing possible projects in the field of TCM between Austria and China.
October 10-12, 2007, Shanghai, China
Venue: Fudan University, Shanghai
2nd Plenary Meeting of Eurasia-Pacific Uninet