Wuyi University Signs MOUs with UNBC and Barkerville

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1 City of Prince George 1100 Patricia Boulevard Prince George, BC V2L 3V9 Tel: News Release For Immediate Release May 24, 2013 Wuyi University Signs MOUs with UNBC and Barkerville Prince George, BC A delegation from the Wuyi University in Jiangmen, China has signed historic Memorandums of Understanding (MOUs) with the University of Northern British Columbia (UNBC) and the Barkerville Heritage Trust, which is the charitable organization that manages Barkerville Historic Town. The MOU signings took place in Prince George on May 23, 2013 and stem, in part, from relationships that were formed during Mayor Shari Green s delegation to China in November This visit is one more advancement in strengthening Prince George s relationship with the people of Jiangmen, China, said Shari Green, Mayor of Prince George. It opens the door for further cultural exchange as well as learning and sharing between our Colleges and Universities. The agreement between Wuyi University and UNBC is designed to promote international cooperation in education and research, and covers activities such as: collaborative research projects; staff development programs; staff and student exchanges; and the exchange of publications, reports and other academic information. It also allows the two institutions to develop additional activities of mutual benefit. This year, UNBC has 462 international students, up from 320 five years ago and 112 a decade ago. We have exchange agreements with universities across the globe, with students from more than 35 countries attending UNBC, said Dr. George Iwama, President of UNBC. This agreement, however, is unique because it was initiated as a result of the City s vision to develop a sister-city relationship with Jiangmen; we re honoured to play a role in that process. As one of the first institutions of higher education authorized by the National Ministry of Education to recruit international students, WYU has enrolled over 800 students from the United States, Mexico, England, Japan, Poland, Indonesia, Malaysia, Russian, France, Vietnam, Yemen, Peru etc who are engaged in both long-term and short-term of study. WYU maintains a vigorous and substantial academics exchanges program with at least 32

2 accredited universities and colleges in 12 friendly nations. Every year WYU sends over 20 highly qualified teachers/scholars to England, United States or Japan for advanced studies and academic exchange, and over 10 students abroad for jointly articulated programs. Jiangmen is home to many overseas Chinese. We are proud of the historic connections with Canada, especially with British Columbia. Most of the early Chinese immigrants who took part in mining and in building of Canada's great railway came from the Jiangmen region, said Chancellor WANG, Wuyi University. Through our partnerships with the University of Northern British Columbia and Barkerville Heritage Trust, we look forward to strengthening our long-time relations, and building closer and deeper ties for the new generations of our two great countries." After a trip to Jiangmen in 2009, Barkerville developed the bi-lingual exhibit Who Am I? Bridging the Pacific from Guangdong to Barkerville and Back featuring stories and photographs taken from the Barkerville Archives of early Chinese pioneers, most of whom were from near Jiangmen. The exhibit, which contains 60 display panels and over 1300 photographs on an interactive ipad, is currently travelling in Guangdong Province and will return research information to both the Guangdong Qiaogxiang Culture Research Centre at Wuyi University and Barkerville Historic Town. The information about the photos that is collected as the exhibit travels through the home towns of the Chinese immigrants will increase understanding on both sides of the Pacific of the lives of these heroic sojourners. By deepening our relationship with Wuyi University we are building bridges between cultures and linking our past to our future said John Massier, Chair of the Barkerville Heritage Trust. Video b-roll and interviews, audio interviews and photographs of the MOU signings can be downloaded at Media Contacts: Mayor Shari Green City of Prince George William Owen Dean, Student Success and Enrollment Management William.Owen@unbc.ca John Massier Chair, Barkerville Heritage Trust

3 BACKGROUNDER The City of Prince George has entered into a Memorandum of Understanding with the City of Jiangmen, Guangdong Province, China to establish a twinning agreement founded on the principles of friendship and cooperation. The purpose of the twinning agreement is the development of a framework to support local relationships that promote trade, cultural exchange, tourism, and connections between educational institutions in Jiangmen and Prince George. Council s strategic plan supports the regional economic development and cultural exchange opportunities that are made possible through its twinning agreement. The Wuyi University agreements signed today are examples of the benefits of leveraging strategic partnerships in support of the twinning agreement. The connection between Wuyi University and the University of Northern British Columbia began with a twinning delegation to Jiangmen in The City of Prince George supported Barkerville in the development of the Who am I? Bridging the Pacific: From Guangdong to Barkerville and Back satellite exhibit to be installed at the Guangdong Qiaoxiang Culture Research Center at Wuyi University in Jiangmen. Jiangmen region was home to many Chinese Canadians who came to Barkerville during the gold rush. Because of this historical connection, the exhibit will promote research, cultural, and tourism exchange between Jiangmen and Northern British Columbia. This visit today is one more advancement in strengthening Prince George s relationship with the people of Jiangmen, China, says Mayor Shari Green, and opens the door for further for cultural exchange and learning and sharing between our Colleges and Universities. The City of Prince George is expecting an inbound delegation from Jiangmen this summer, where new economic development and cultural exchange opportunities will be explored.

4 Wuyi University Jiangmen City, Guangdong Province, China Wuyi University (WYU) was founded in 1985 as one of China s full-time comprehensive universities. The university has its name derived from the 5 counties (Wuyi) of Xinhui, Taishan, Heshan, Kaiping and Enping under the Prefecture of Jiangmen where it was originally built to provide tertiary education for the people in the prefecture, and which was heavily sponsored by overseas Chinese in Hong Kong and Macao who have their roots in the 5 counties Spread over more than160 acres, WYU has 15 schools and departments, 36 undergraduate courses and 13 Master s Degree programs covering the six disciplines of economics, law, literature, science, technology and management. WYU currently has undergraduate students from the 14 provinces and regions of Southern China including Hong Kong and Macao, and recruits graduate students nationwide. Presently there are more than 20,000 students comprising over 13,000 graduate and full-time undergraduate students. As one of the first institutions of higher education authorized by the National Ministry of Education to recruit international students, WYU has enrolled over 800 students from the United States, Mexico, England, Japan, Poland, Indonesia, Malaysia, Russian, France, Vietnam, Yemen, Peru etc who are engaged in both long-term and short-term of study. WYU maintains a vigorous and substantial academics exchanges program with at least 32 accredited universities and colleges in 12 friendly nations. Every year WYU sends over 20 highly qualified teachers/scholars to England, United States or Japan for advanced studies and academic exchange, and over 10 students abroad for jointly articulated programs. For more info, please visit:

5 Guangdong Qiaoxiang Culture Research Center (Qiaoxiang: Hometown of Overseas Chinese) The Qiaoxiang Culture Research Institute was first established in 2006 in WYU as part of the Overseas Chinese History Research Division. Shortly after, WYU joined with Jiangmen City Government Public Relation Department and Jiangmen Social Science Association to create a cooperation platform which they called the Guangdong Qiaoxiang Culture Research Center. Before the end of the year, the Guangdong Qiaoxiang Culture Research Center was approved as a provincial research organization based in Wuyi University focusing the studies on history and culture of hometown of overseas Chinese (Qiaoxiang). The Center has 19 researchers presently. Their work falls amongst six divisions of : Research of Qiaoxiang Heritage; Research of Qiaoxiang Culture; Research of Qiaoxiang Society; Research of Wuyi Women and Children; Research of Wuyi Literature; and Research of Hong Kong and Macao Literature.

6 Barkerville s Travelling Exhibit to China: Who Am I? 我是谁 Bridging the Pacific From Guangdong to Barkerville and Back New Exhibit Seeks to Deepen Cultural Understanding using Technology Exhibit visitors explore Barkerville s extensive collection of historic photographs of Chinese migrants in over 60 panels of photos and stories and two interactive computer kiosks. Viewers of the exhibit will be able to make comment on and potentially identify relatives or friends as they swipe through the collection of 1400 images using a unique ipad interface. Purpose is to gain greater knowledge about the people who came not only to Barkerville, but British Columbia. Wuyi University is particularly interested in this research sharing element. Barkerville s collections have an increasingly important role to play in building bridges between cultures and linking our past to our future. Barkerville has been praised by Chinese officials for its excellence in preserving and presenting the history of the Chinese immigrants. The buildings, photographs and archival material tell stories that have been lost on the other side of the Pacific is the 150th anniversary of the oldest Chee Kung Tong building in Canada, which was designated as a National Historic Site of Canada in 2009 The goals of this Exhibit are to create important links for research and communication with museums and academic institutions on both sides of the Pacific, to enhance awareness of Barkerville in China, and to increase tourism to BC and Canada. The exhibit exemplifies the success of Barkerville in interpreting the Chinese experience in Canada one of the few museums in Canada to do so, and certainly the first. As Canada looks to China for new markets, Barkerville s strong cultural connection is an asset and presents an opportunity to showcase and contribute to mutually beneficial objectives. Exhibit started touring in December 2012 to Dr Sun Yat-Sen Classical Chinese Garden. Displayed at the Hong Kong Museum of History February 26 to April Currently in Guangzhou, at the Guangdong Overseas Chinese Museum. Comes to Jiangmen Wuyi Museum of Overseas Chinese & Wu Yi University October 2013.