On the morning, Nov. 2ed, 2018, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences (UCAS) and University of Chile collectively signed Memorandum of Cooperation and Student Exchange Agreement, indicating a partnership was formally concluded. Wang Yanfen, deputy secretary of party committee, executive vice-president of UCAS, met Ennio Véjar, the president of University of Chile, and other faculties in University of Chinese Academy of Sciences Yu Quan Lu Campus. Hu Baoyang, executive president of Savaid Medical School, and Zhao Gongbo, dean of Department of Astronomy of School of Astronomy and Space Science attended the meeting.
Wang Yanfen warmly welcomed Ennio Véjar’s arriving and introduced the history of graduate education in Chinese Academy of Sciences, the education model and advantages of Department and Institute Integration System in UCAS, and the development of UCAS Overseas Joint Science and Education Center. She pointed, since Chinese Academy of Sciences and University of Chile jointly established CAS South America Center for Astronomy (CASSACA), cooperation has been conducted in a smooth and effective way. And she really hoped that PresidentVéjar Véja’s visit and the contract can further and substantively promote cooperation and exchange for both sides.
President Ennio Véjar thanked for the hospitality and reception from UCAS, and talked about his visit to Yanxi Hu Campus（one campus of UCAS in Huairou District, Beijing）, which endowed him with a profound and fantastic impression. He thought highly of Sino-Danish College cooperation model and presented the planning map the new campus of University of Chile through PPT, and finally aspired to cooperate with UCAS in astronomy, medicine, biology and etc.
Hu Baoyang, executive president of Savaid Medical School, and Zhao Gongbo, dean of Department of Astronomy of School of Astronomy and Space Science, introduced the overview and development on these two departments separately.
Cooperation Memorandum and signing ceremony of Student Exchange Agreement followed the meeting. According to the agreement, UCAS will initiate a 5-year-running cooperation with University of Chile in teacher-student exchange, researches and publication of papers, development of courses, seminars and other fields as well.
Founded in Santiago, thecapital city of Chile in 1843, University of Chile (Spanish: University de Chile) is one of the oldest and most prestigious universities in Latin America, and ranked first among public universities in Chile. According to Times Higher Education (THE), published in 2018, University of Chile took the first place among the top ten universities in Latin America. With 5 campuses totally covering an area of over 316, 8373 square meters, the university featured various amnesties, including research buildings, health centers, museums, theatres, observations and gymnasiums. In 2016, the university, totally establishing 69 majors, 116 and 38 programs for graduate students and doctor respectively, enrolled and registered more than 40000 undergraduate and graduate students collectively. University of Chile and UCAS are both members of the Association of Pacific Rim Universities (APRU).
In Oct. 2013, University of Chile and CAS reached an agreement to locate CAS South America Center for Astronomy (CASSACA) at Cerro Calan Campus in Santiago which is the home of Department of Astronomy, School of Mathematics and Physics of university of Chile, meanwhile, University of Chile awarded President Bai Chunli with an honorary doctorate title. Vice-president of University of Chile and Prof. Bai Chunli together presided the signing ceremony and the unveiled ceremony of South America Center for Astronomy. In Feb. 2016, University of Chile, as the host, provided assistance to help National Astronomical Observatories, CAS (NAOC) to get the honorary title “International Scientific Research Organization in Chile “granted by the Chilean government.
By ZHANG Liyun
