CUHK Vice-Chancellor awarded Utrecht University International Medal

Prof. Joseph Sung, Vice-Chancellor of CUHK, was awarded the International Medal of Utrecht University (Utrecht), the Netherlands for his contributions in strengthening international cooperation between the two universities. Mrs. Marjan J. Oudeman, President of the Executive Board of Utrecht said, ‘Prof. Sung has been a tremendous promotor in building bridges between our universities which have now grown into a strategic partnership. The International Medal is a fitting and well-deserved acknowledgment of his years of dedication to our cooperation.’

Utrecht’s International Medal recognises individuals who have made significant contributions to forging international partnership with and strengthening the international profile of the University. Prof. Joseph Sung is the 10th recipient of the medal.

Mrs. Oudeman visited CUHK on 13 April 2017 with a delegation comprising researchers representing life sciences, history, youth development, and public health, as well as the Business Development Manager of Utrecht Science Park. The visit coincided with the first anniversary of the forming of a tripartite partnership among CUHK, Utrecht, and the University of Toronto in research and education. A roundtable discussion was held to review the progress and plans in three areas of collaborations: public health, migration, and cities. The two universities also took the opportunity to explore other topics of common interest, such as youth development and life sciences.

The strategic partnership between CUHK and Utrecht began in 2003 and the two universities have since been working together in both teaching and research extensively. Collaborations between the two universities have been robust in recent years, including the setting up of a Joint Centre for Language, Mind and Brain, a joint research programme in musculoskeletal research and regenerative medicine, and a new Joint Research Laboratory of Respiratory Virus and Immunobiology, in addition to active faculty and student mobility. Research collaborations in law, environment and climate change, and the humanities are also under way between the two universities.