BANGOR INTERNATIONAL

May 2014

www.bangor.ac.uk/international

The Launch of ‘Bangor College China’The beginning of the collaboration between Bangor University and Central South University of Forestry and Technology in 2011...

The signing ceremony of the new Bangor College China withBangor University’s Vice Chancellor Prof John Hughes andthe President of CSUFT Prof ZHOU, Xianyan in 2014...

The first collaboration between Wales and China to establisha new College in China has been celebrated by Bangor University and the Central South University of Forestry andTechnology (CSUFT), in China in a signing ceremony at Bangor University attended by both Mr David Jones MP, Secretary of State for Wales, and Mr LI Guoqiang, First Secretary of the Education Section of the Chinese Embassyin the UK.

In the exciting new collaboration, both institutions are creating an international college - ‘Bangor College’ which willbegin teaching in Changsha City, the capital city of Hunanprovince in China, and a city with a population of 8 millionpeople.

Following more than three years hard work, the two Universities' joint application to set up an international college was approved by the Chinese Ministry of Educationin December 2013, one of only two in the UK approved thatyear.

Welcoming the new agreement, made at a launch event at Bangor University on 27 May, Professor John G. Hughes, Bangor University’s Vice Chancellor said: “This is a historic agreement for both institutions. It bringsthe excellent quality of higher education provided by Bangor University closer to students in China and also provides exciting opportunities for Bangor’s students and academics to experience an exchange of learning and ideas in China.”Bangor College China will open its door to 200 Chinese students this September. The College will initially offer

undergraduate programmes in accounting, banking, financeand electronic engineering , with plans to expand the rangeof subjects to include other academic areas in which Bangor University excels, such as Forestry and Environmental Studies in a few years’ time.

All programmes will be taught and assessed in English, andwill provide students with a UK-style higher education experience. Teaching will be delivered by experienced stafffrom Bangor University as well as newly appointed highlyqualified international staff. Students will have the opportunity to study at Bangor University for one or twoyears. They may also complete the entire programme inChina.

The College will expand to 2,000 students in a few years’time providing real opportunities for both Bangor andCSUFT to develop new academic programmes that servethe local social and economic needs. Bangor University’slong-term ambition is also to develop the College into astudy abroad centre and a research base for Bangor students to spend 1-2 semesters to study and research inChina.

The new Bangor CollegeChina logo on the left andthe college website addressbelow:bangor.csuft.edu.cn/cn

Research News

The #nomakeupselfiephenomenon

A psychologist at Bangor University has been so fascinated by the #nomakeupselfie social mediaphenomenon that he has carriedout a research project which hassince been reported around theworld including the US,Malaysia, Australia and Africa!

The research project, carried outat Bangor University, which willshortly be published in the Quarterly Journal of Experimental Psychology, examined the misattributions people make when consideringwhat the opposite sex find attractive. His research projectspecifically examined makeupuse and found some surprisingresults.

Dr Alex Jones of the School of Psychology said:

“The take home message fromthis study is that our ideas aboutwhat the opposite sex find attractive are often inaccurate,whether it relates to body size,weight, or even something likemakeup use. The misconceptions play a role inbody image and self esteem issues and are sadly based onsimple misunderstandings.“

The findings have been coveredand are still continuing to getcoverage by a range of magazines from ‘New Scientist’to ‘Cosmopolitan’!

Iraqi Academic TrainingProgramme a success

The Iraqi delegates pictured with Bangor University’s Vice Chancellor Prof. John G Hughes (centre)

In collaboration with the Ministry of Higher Education and Scientific Research (MOHSER) and the Iraqi Cultural Attaché in London, Bangor University welcomed a group of Iraqi Academics on a 4 week Iraqi Academic Training Program.

The group of delegates were from a number of Iraqi universities, workingin the areas of natural resources management (agriculture and forestry)and biological sciences. They followed a Bangor University training program which offered exposure to teaching and research styles, developing advanced learning, teaching methods and research activitiesas well as developing opportunities for future co-operation at institutionallevels.

While in Bangor, the visitors observed both undergraduate and postgraduate teaching, and attended seminars by staff, students and external speakers. They visited laboratories and other experimental facilities, obtained exposure to modern library and IT practices, includingvirtual learning environments and distance learning techniques. They haddiscussions with individual academic and administrative staff in Bangor.

Research NewsBangor in UK top 20 for student experience

Senior staff at Bangor University have welcomed the results of the TimesHigher Education’s Student Experience Survey which places the University in the Top 20 in the UK for student satisfaction.

“The great experience the students have, along with the care they receiveat Bangor have been key attractions to the University for generations, andit’s clear that our current students appreciate the whole, rounded experience of studying here,” said Professor John G. Hughes, the University’s Vice Chancellor.

The survey shows that Bangor’s students rate the University highly for thehelpful and interested staff, the high quality of the courses, and the greatcommunity atmosphere. One of the elements which has scored highly isthe high standard of extracurricular activities and societies. Boasting over100 Students Union Clubs and Societies, covering all sorts of sports, academic and hobby interests, the University is the only public universityin the UK to make its Student Clubs & Societies free to all students.

Bangor’s student ambassador attends High Commissioner event

Charu Dada, international student ambassador for Bangor University (2nd fromleft) pictured with the High Commissioner Mr. Rajan Mithai and Second

Secretary (Education) Mr. Subhash C Chawla

The High Commissioner, Mr. Ranjan Mathai hosted an interactive event atIndia House on May 2, 2014. Over 90 Indian students, studying in universities all across the United Kingdom participated.

The High Commissioner and other senior officers of the Mission briefedthe students on the functioning of the departments relevant to the needsand interest of Indian students in the UK and encouraged them to keep intouch with the High Commission by way of suggestions and feedback.

Image credit Mansur/WCS Bangladesh

Endangered Gangesriver dolphinA new study released in May reveals a method to improve themonitoring of the endangeredGanges river dolphin.

Research author, Nadia Richman,who is a scientist at the Royal Zoological Society and also aPhD student at Bangor University’s School of Environment, Natural Resources& Geography said:

“Freshwater cetaceans occupysome of the most densely populated and polluted river systems in the world. We need tomake decisions about the bestway to manage these species before another becomes extinct.”

The study was undertaken byscientists from the ZoologicalSociety of London (ZSL), BangorUniversity, the University of Chittagong in Bangladesh, theWildlife Conservation Society(WCS), the Bangladesh CetaceanDiversity Project, and the Fisheries Research Agency ofJapan recently in South AsianRiver dolphins in the rivers ofSouthern Bangladesh.

Nadia added: "I chose to come and study in the School of Environment, Natural Resources& Geography at Bangor University given its reputation asan interdisciplinary researchcentre. Over the last three yearsI have met a diverse range of researchers with a broad rangeof expertise which has meantthat I am never short of advicewhen needed."

Bangor Universitystudent reachesthe final of theWales InternationalHarp Festival

Bangor University undergraduate Dian Yu, whoplays the guzheng (Chinesezither), was one of six finalists to be selected by a panelof internationally renownedjudges for the final round of theWorld Music Competition in therecent Wales International HarpFestival 2014 in Caernarfon.

Dian, a second year student atthe Bangor Business School, hasreached the highest level of examination success in guzhengperformance in the Chinese system, and has been playing the instrument for over 15 years.

Chair of Judges, leading Welsh musician Stephen Rees, said thatthe six finalists:

“…had played with technical excellence and a high level of musicianship.”

The Festival's World Music Competition was sponsored bythe Confucius Institute at Bangor University. Speaking at the competition's award ceremony,Dr. David Joyner, Executive Director of the Institute, congratulated the 17 contestantsfrom eight countries on representing the finest ambitionof the Confucius Institute movement: to build friendshipand understanding betweenChina and the countries of theworld though cultural exchange.

Student from Brazil wins all-expenses paid UK experience

Bangor University hosted Bruna Ramos, a Brazilian student from PUC SaoPaulo, for a 12 day stay at the University, as a joint program with the BritishCouncil. Bruna was chosen from hundreds of applicants for an all-expenses paid UK experience. She spent a few days in London, and thennearly two weeks in Bangor taking classes at the top-ranked school ofElectronic Engineering, and language and cultural classes with ELCOS. Shealso explored the sites of North Wales, hiking in Snowdonia, seeing fourcastles in four days, cheering on Wales during the Six Nations rugby tournament, and spending time with both British and Brazilian students atBangor. She's planning on coming back to Bangor next year on the ScienceWithout Borders scheme to study Electronic Engineering. Bruna said:“It was the best day of my life, finding out that Bangor University chose meto come study there. It's been a wonderful experience- I’ve loved theclasses, I've made friends, been to wonderful places and I’ve seen breathtaking views. I cannot say how thankful I am for being a part of this.It was unforgettable and I’m completely in love with Wales and Bangor.Thank you/Diolch British Council and Bangor University for this life-changing opportunity!”

Bruna Ramos pictured in Snowdonia

Bangor’s student ambassadorwins International Award!

Monalisa Odibo (pictured left) whois one of Bangor University’s international student ambassadors,won the International Award at the2014 Student Led Teaching Awards!Monalisa said:"With all the amazing services thestaff at the International EducationCenter provides to InternationalStudent, this award seems unde-serving. Many thanks to BangorStudents' Union and the studentswho nominated me, I am very honoured and humbled to receivethis award”.

Congratulations Monalisa!

NUS InternationalisationAwards 2014 - Top 3 Awardfor Bangor!

Manuela Vittori of Bangor University with Dominic Scott, Chief Executive, UKCISA’s

A dedicated member of staff from Bangor University’s International Education Centre received an award at an Internationalisation Awards ceremony recently.

Manuela Vittori, International Student Support Officer, came third in theNUS/UK Council for International Student Affairs InternationalisationAwards which took place at the Warwick Integration Summit. The awardsaimed to recognise the hard work that student unions, institutions, officersand students put in to supporting international students and improvingtheir experience.

Manuela, who has worked at the IEC for four years, said: “I’m very happy and proud to have been given this award, representingBangor and Wales at this prestigious event. I would like to thank all of mycolleagues at the International Education Centre who also work very hardto support our International students, making their student experience anunforgettable one. With world class teaching, beautiful scenery and outstanding support services Bangor is a great place to work and study.”

Alan Edwards, Head of International Student Support, said: “We’re extremely happy at the IEC that Manuela was shortlisted and thenreceived an award. Bangor was the only Welsh University to be shortlistedand it recognises the good work that Manuela and her colleagues at theInternational Student Support Office do in helping and supporting international students to settle in to life in a new country.”

LawCareers.Net Awards 2014 One of Bangor University’s Law lecturers - Gwilym Owen - was shortlistedfor the prestigious ‘Lecturer of the Year’ award in the 11th annual Law Careers. Net Training & Recruitment Awards which took place in Londonon the 22 May.

Although Gwilym did not win on the night he did get down to the final sixand his nomination reflects the high quality of pastoral care for which Bangor Law School is renowned. Gwilym said:“I am most grateful to the students in the Law School for nominating mefor this award”.

Bangor BusinessSchool still top15 in the worldfor Banking research

Bangor Business School maintains its position as one ofthe top 15 institutions in theworld for Banking research, according to the latest RePEcrankings.

As of April 2014, Bangor Business School was ranked in14th position, ahead of the likesof Havard Business School,Princeton University, Cass Business School and Oxford University. It also retains itsplace as the highest-ranking UKinstitution.

Compiled on a monthly basis, theRePEc (Reseach Papers in Economics) survey considers research and publications bybanks, economists and othermonetary organisations, as wellas universities such as Bangor. Inthe April 2014 table, the bibliographical data, citationsand popularity data of 1,565 institutions were analysed.

Bangor Business School is currently ranked as the no.1Business School in the UK for research in the field of Accounting and Finance, according to the latest ResearchAssessment Exercise (RAE) bythe UK government.

Promoting Chinese Culture in Wales...Two Dragons Garden ProjectAn exciting new Chinese Garden isto be developed at Treborth BotanicGarden, as part of the wider projectat Bangor University.

A new collection of Chinese medicinal plants is to be created atthe Botanic Garden. This will formpart of the Two Dragons GardenProject, which will link the University’s Treborth Botanic Garden with Xishuangbanna Tropical Botanic (XTB) Garden inChina’s Yunnan Province, and withproject partners, the Chinese Unionof Botanic Gardens, the RoyalBotanic Garden Edinburgh, BotanicGardens Conservation Internationaland the Confucius Institute at Bangor University.

Professor Chen Jin, Director of Xishuangbanna Tropical Botanic Garden andChair of the Chinese Union of Botanic Gardens and Bangor University’s Vice

Chancellor Professor John G Hughes

Treborth Botanic Garden will be increasing its Chinese medicinal plants collection over the next year.

Professor John G Hughes, Vice Chancellor of Bangor University said:

“The Two Dragons Garden Project will improve the capacity for teaching, research and knowledge exchange inthe botanical sciences between Wales and China. We are especially looking forward to the opportunities it offers to welcome Chinese students and academics to Bangor and to be able to provide our own students andacademics the opportunity to work with our colleagues in China through new training and exchange programmes.”

Bangor University Vice Chancellor Professor John Hughes and Professor Chen Jin signed a Memorandum of Understanding at a reception at Treborth Botanic Garden. Also attending the event was Queen’s Botanist, ProfSteve Blackmore, a former Director of the Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh.

Chinese Kites over TreborthTreborth Botanic Garden hostedBangor’s second Chinese Kite Festival on Sunday 4th May. Organised by Bangor University’sConfucius Institute, the day turnedout to be a colourful afternoon offamily fun set in Treborth’s beautifulgrounds.

A spokesperson from Bangor University’s Confucius Institutesaid:

“Painting and flying Chinese Kites isa fun, accessible way to introducepeople to Chinese culture. Lastyear’s Kite Festival was exceptionaland we were delighted so manypeople took part across the community. These workshops

are a great way to bring people together and learn somethingnew.”

Sophie Williams, a lecturer at theBotanic Garden said:“Bringing people together to learnand enjoy the Garden is central toour work, and holding the Kite Festival here is an ideal opportunityto make that happen. CelebratingChinese culture and creating linkswith our Chinese community is animportant part of our Two DragonsGarden Project, and we are verypleased to be working with BangorUniversity’s Confucius Institute tohelp realise this.”

Yan Ying a lecturer in Translation Studies at the School of Modern Languages and Co-Director of the newlyfounded Centre for East Asian Studies at Bangor University said:

“This event celebrated the positive steps taken so far to raise awareness and interest in each other’s literature, and was able to build on the work, with the signing of a memorandum of understanding betweenBangor University, Shanghai Translation Publishing House and Wales Literature Exchange, which builds theframework of collaboration between the three institutions. This step should lead to more publications sharing the literature of each country in the future.”

Celebrating Welsh and Chinese LiteratureWelsh and Chinese authors, poets,translators, academics and publishers came together at Bangor University recently to celebrate asharing of literature between thetwo countries, in an event organisedby Yan Ying of Bangor University’sSchool of Modern Languages andSioned Puw Rowlands of the WalesLiterature Exchange. The symposium celebrated the release of a special issue of ForeignLiterature and Art from ShanghaiTranslation Publishing House, focusing on contemporary Welsh literature in translation. Thispublication represents the first move in introducing contemporaryWelsh literature to the Chinesereadership.

Bangor University’s Vice Chancellor, Prof John G Hughes, Mr WU Hong, Vice Editor-in-Chief of the Shanghai Translation Publishing House and Sioned Puw

Rowlands, Director of Wales Literature Exchange

Sound of the Two DragonsWales met China for an inspirational evening of cross-culturalperformance on Thursday 1st May, as musicians from Shanghaiand Gwynedd came together for a special concert in Powis Hall:Sound of the Two Dragons: Welsh and Chinese Music Dialogue.

Presented by Bangor University’s Confucius Institute and theUniversity’s School of Music, the concert was led by visitingMusic Technology Professor Shen Lin, and singer Xian Zhao,both from Shanghai Normal University, who gave a captivatingperformance combining traditional Chinese song with electronicvoice synthesis. They were joined, in separate performances,by renowned Welsh harpist and singer, Gwenan Gibbard, who specialises in the ancient Welsh art of Cerdd Dant, and Professor Andrew Lewis from Bangor University’s School ofMusic, who presented his electroacoustic composition Cân; amusical distillation of Wales, its people, language, landscapeand culture. Dr. David Joyner, Executive Director of the Confucius Institutecommented:“Promoting cultural exchange between China and north Walesis essential to our work here in Bangor, and it is through suchevents that we can start to explore and compare the rich cultures of our two countries. The concert provided a fantasticopportunity to celebrate a meeting of the Two Dragons - Chinese and Welsh - and we are delighted to have been able tounite these musicians for such a memorable and inspiringevening.”

Top picture, L-R: TIAN Ye, Shanghai Normal University, Gwenan Gibbard, Lyiang Zhang, BangorUniversity’s Confucius Institute, JIN Ye, ShanghaiNormal University, Dr Xinyu Wu, Bangor University

www.bangor.ac.uk/international

Country RepresentativesBing Li

Tel: +44 (0) 1248 388207Email: b.li@bangor.ac.uk

Sukhjinder Bhatti

Tel: +44 (0) 1248 388874Email: s.bhatti@bangor.ac.uk

Maggie Parke

Tel: +44 (0) 1248 388416Email: maggie.parke@bangor.ac.uk

Responsible for:

Mainland China South KoreaHong Kong TaiwanJapan PhilippinesVietnam

Responsible for:

BangladeshIndiaNepalPakistanSri LankaInternational students in the UK

Responsible for:

Argentina ColombiaBrazil MexicoCanada USAChile

Sarah Jones-Morris

Tel: +44 (0) 1248 388843Email: s.jones-morris@bangor.ac.uk

Noor Al-Zubaidi

Tel: +44 (0) 1248 382879Email: n.al-zubaidi@bangor.ac.uk

Michael Rogerson

Tel: +44 (0) 1248 382879Email: m.rogerson@bangor.ac.uk

Responsible for:

Brunei RussiaIndonesia SingaporeKazakhstan ThailandMalaysia Sub-Saharan Africa, includingNigeria, Ghana and Cameroon

Responsible for:

Bahrain OmanEgypt Saudi ArabiaIraq TurkeyJordan UAEKuwait QatarLibya

Responsible for:

European Union Countries

Upcoming Visits for 2014We shall be visiting the following countriesduring 2014:

BangladeshBahrainBrazilCameroonChinaGhanaHong KongIndiaIndonesiaIraq

Please do contact us if you would like one of our internationalofficers to visit your school or if you need any advice.

KuwaitMalaysiaNigeriaPakistanSaudi ArabiaSingaporeThailandTurkeyUSAVietnam

W: www.bangor.ac.uk/internationalE: international@bangor.ac.uk www.facebook.com/BangorUniversity

Bangor Business SchoolPhD Studentships for2014 startBangor Business School invites applicationsfrom suitably qualified individuals wanting topursue doctoral studies. They are offering anumber of PhD Studentships for researchprojects across a range of disciplines. ThePhD bursary provides a total annual allowance of £13,500 and Tuition Fees at theHome/EU rate.

International applicants must pay the difference between the Home/EU and International fees.

For more information visit:www.bangor.ac.uk/business/phd_studentships

Applications must be submitted by 1 June 2014.