Bureaus Exclusive

Interview with deputy vice-chancellor of University of Newcastle

By Li Yingqing and Guo Anfei (China Daily Yunnan Bureau)
Updated: 2010-08-13 17:27

Professor Kevin McConkey, deputy vice-chancellor of the University of Newcastle in pictured during the interview. [China Daily Yunnan Bureau]

Professor Kevin McConkey, deputy vice-chancellor of the University of Newcastle, initiated the Shangri-la University Alliance on Friday with four Chinese universities to launch a Sino-Australian dual master degree program. He had an interview with China Daily in July.

China Daily: Could you introduce The University of Newcastle, Australia to us?

Kevin McConkey: The University of Newcastle is located in Newcastle, which is a town about 2-hours drive north of Sydney in Australia. The University of Newcastle is a comprehensive university. We cover undergraduate degrees across many disciplines and professions, and many postgraduate degrees. We have about 32,000 students and we have our main campus in Newcastle. We have other campuses in Australia, and we also have a campus in Singapore. So we have four campuses all together, but our major campus is in Newcastle.

I think there are three aspects to the strengths of the university. The first aspect is that we have a very strong reputation in research in areas such as engineering and health. The second is that we have very strong teaching and education in areas like business, in the humanities, and the arts. And the third aspect of the university that I think sets us apart from other universities is that it is a university that is very outward-looking, that it looks out to the rest of the world. Over the last couple of years, we have been working very hard to create and support friendships in China with universities, with government departments, and with the wide range of activities in China. So the University of Newcastle is strong in research, teaching, and strong in how we see our interaction with the world.

As such, the Shangri-La University Alliance has decided as its first program to focus on international business. And I think that are a couple of reasons for that. One reason is that international business is a strength of the universities involved in the Alliance. The second reason is that there is a need for students to come to China and to come to Australia. So there is a clear demand of it.

China Daily: Why did you choose Shangri-La, Yunnan, to sign the cooperation agreements and launch the University Alliance? What does Shangri-La mean to the Alliance?

Kevin McConkey: One reason?is because this area has a very special meaning for many people. It is an area of great beauty; it is an area of great spirituality; and it is an area that attracts many people to it. In the Western world, the English-speaking world, a novel that was published many years ago called Lost Horizon talked about a mysterious place called 'Shangri-La'. That book is very well known in the English-speaking world. And it is a place where people find great future, great harmony, and great peace.

So those things came together. With the University Alliance that we have formed, we want it to be something new, something amazing, and something that attracts people. It seems that the word 'Shangri-La' captures that meaning.

China Daily: As the only university outside China, what were the motivations for The University of Newcastle to join the Alliance?

Kevin McConkey: One factor was the spread of the universities involved. By 'spread' I mean the geographical spread across China in very important regions, social-economic regions, and geographical regions; so they were a mix of Chinese universities. And we were attracted to that. We were also attracted to the energy and enthusiasm of those universities to do something that no one else is doing.

We were also attracted by the desire to do something that would not only benefit the individual students but also benefit countries as well by showing new ways of doing things. I think it can set a good example for universities inside and outside China. One of the things I hope is that people in China fully realize how much of the world now turns to learn from China.

China Daily: The implementation of the Alliance project will be an unprecedented approach for the internationalization of education. What will the Alliance do to assure the quality for this initiative?

Kevin McConkey: In three ways: The first way is that each of the universities involved is of good quality. So we start with good quality ingredients. It is just like when you are making food. If you've got good quality ingredients the outcome is likely to be good. The second way is that some of us are very experienced in academic standards and quality assurance. In Australia, for instance, I am an auditor of the Australian Universities Quality Agency and I teach about how to conduct audits of international education. The third factor is the very strong commitment of the Presidents of the Universities to do something exciting and new, and to do it very well.

China Daily: Do you plan to introduce other universities to the Alliance in the future?

Kevin McConkey: Yes, we do. We have agreed that over the first 6-12 months we will focus on making it work. Then when we are sure that we are heading in a strong direction, we will look carefully at the type of universities that we would like, whether those universities are in China, in Australia, or in other countries.

China Daily: What are the criteria that you will use to choose new partners?

Kevin McConkey: The criteria are the same as for the ones that are already involved, which include: universities of good quality, universities that would add to the diversity of the group, universities that are committed to doing something new and well. This will never be an Alliance that has hundreds of universities. It will be an Alliance that has a selected number of universities that have quality and diversity. The new partners should diversify the program, lift reputation, and 'add value'.

China Daily: As a founder of the Alliance, what are your expectations for the Alliance cooperation?

Kevin McConkey: The prospect has a few characteristics. One of them is the development of joint programs and degrees. As I have mentioned we are starting with a program in international business. There are some other threads that we will work on and develop over time. I think the opportunity to bring students from other countries into China and into Australia as well as the opportunity for Chinese and Australian students to cross countries.

There is also the prospect of doing things in a way that will help students and also help their home countries. One of the things that the Alliance wants to do is to make sure that we contribute to the social good. Educating people is good for society and people can take knowledge back to the country where they've come from.