Chinese officials discuss post-Brexit partnership with University

Released: 14.11.16

Marjon and Plymouth City Council officials welcomed distinguished guests today to develop the sport industry and links between the UK and China for university students.

Marjon’s Dean of Faculty for Sport & Health Sciences, Professor Andrew Edwards said: “Shandong Sports University is the premier sports university in the Shandong province, which is established as a major sporting region of China. Building on our thriving sport culture is important to Marjon, just as an advanced sport industry sector is a major priority for the government in Shandong, a province with a population of 60 million. With 18,000 professional sports men and women, it wishes to boost the contribution of the sports sector to its gross domestic product.

Shandong Sports University is interested in partnering with Marjon with a view to exchanges for UK and Chinese students who are studying sports related degrees. Acting Vice-Chancellor Dr Karen Cook said: “In a post-brexit world, this new collaboration positions us at the forefront of training, research and business engagement in sport and health and is one of a number of important initiatives being progressed at the University for the benefit of the city and for the international development of sport and health sciences.”

In a previous visit to China in May, Marjon agreed to develop a project with Shandong Sports Rehabilitation Hospital. Professor Brendon Noble, Marjon’s Pro Vice Chancellor for Research, Innovation & International explained: "This ground-breaking project will combine Chinese and western sports training and business models to create innovative solutions and allow our sports therapy, sports medicine students and researchers to exchange knowledge and create new ways of treating elite and amateur athletes.”

Professor Wang Yi, Secretary of Party Committee said: “The collaboration of two universities in terms of sport education, sport training and sport research is important, and it will also be dramatically beneficial for public health improvement in two cities and countries.”

Sunday’s formal welcome by Lord Mayor Councillor Pauline Murphy, Chief Executive of Plymouth City Council, Tracey Lee and Councillors Ian Bowyer and Tudor Evans, along with Marjon senior staff, was an opportunity for further negotiations about the future of the City’s relationship with China.

Tracey Lee, Chief Executive of Plymouth City Council added: "We are very pleased to be working with our Chinese colleagues on this important international relationship. Both countries have so much to offer and to gain in terms of specialist knowledge and experience to support the growth of sport-related health and wealth.”

Shandong’s senior university staff and provincial Government officials will tour Plymouth’s sporting facilities including Marjon Sport Centre -where Plymouth Raiders will be training - Plymouth Life Centre, and Plymouth Argyle football stadium.