School of Information Sciences

Strengthening International Ties: Dean Larsen and Dr. Daqing He visit China

10/31/2014

The University of Pittsburgh’s School of Information Sciences is pleased to report on Dean Larsen and Associate Professor Daqing He’s recent trip to promote international collaboration with some of China’s top universities. On October 9, Dean Larsen and Dr. He traveled to Nanjing where they stayed for five days and met with representatives from Nanjing University of Science and Technology and Nanjing University.

Dean Larsen said of the trip, “This was a highly productive visit with valued colleagues in Nanjing. One year ago we signed cooperative agreements between our universities and this visit provided an outstanding opportunity to solidify a strong relationship.”

After meeting with the Dean of Nanjing University of Science and Technology, Dr. Guangpin Hui, Dean Larsen delivered a keynote presentation, “Supporting Scholarship in an Era of Big Data” at the First International Conference on Information and Knowledge Services, hosted by Nanjing University of Science and Technology, the morning of October 11. Dean Larsen and Dr. He then met with representatives from Nanjing University, including Dean Jianjun Sun and Prof. Ying Ye before traveling to Wuhan the following day.

From October 14 through 16, Dean Larsen and Dr. He met with Dean and Professor Qin Fang, Associate Dean and Professor Ruhua Huang, Associate Dean and Professor Wei Lu, Professor Feicheng Ma, Professor Chuanfu Chen and Professor Lihong Zhou from Wuhan University.

On October 16, they arrived in Beijing and met with representatives from Peking University, including Department Chair and Professor Guanjian Li, Professor Jun Wang and Professor Pengyi Zhang.  On October 20, they also discussed the further collaboration with Beijing Institute of Technology with Professor Qingling Wang, Director of International Collaboration Services, Ms. Shan Gao, Deputy Director of International Collaboration Services, and Professor Zhendong Niu, Associate Dean of the School of Computer Science.

Dr. He said he is “very happy to see such strong collaboration interests from so many top universities in China with our school“ and he is “glad to help to implement some of the collaborations.”

Topics of discussion throughout the trip included variations on a 2+2 undergraduate degree program, which would bring more students to Pitt and increase the diversity of our primarily domestic BSIS program. Each of the universities was enthusiastic about the prospect of Pitt students visiting China for short courses or intensive workshops during the summer months.