DSU, Southwest Petroleum University Finalize New Accord

Delaware State University has added another Chinese school to its list of institutional partners with the recent finalization of a memorandum of understanding between DSU and Southwest Petroleum University (SWPU) of Chengdu, China.

DSU President Harry L. Williams – who traveled to China with Dr. Devona Williams, Board of Trustees member, and Dr. Fengshan Liu, associate vice president of DSU International Affairs – met June 25 with SWPU’s Dr. Wang Ling, vice president and provost;Dr. Zhang Liehui, vice president; and Dai Lei, deputy director of the SWPU Office of International Affairs. The delegation discussed the new partnership and the possibilities that could result from it.

The talks culminated with the signing of the memorandum of understanding by the DSU president and Dr. Wang, representing SWPU President Zhao Jinzhou, who could not attend the meeting during a schedule conflict. President Zhao met with President Williams on the following day over lunch at the SWPU campus.  

The agreement is similar to many of the memorandums of understanding DSU has established with other institutions abroad. The DSU-SWPU agreement opens the door for possible study abroad exchanges, faculty teaching and research collaborations, academic discipline connections and other activities.

“This agreement further expanded DSU’s international footprint within the country of China, providing both Del State and Southwest with new possibilities for study abroad for our students as well as possible academic and research collaborations in the future,” said Dr. Williams. “The warm hospitality shown to DSU by the SWPU officials portends a great partnership between the two institutions.”

SWPU President Zhao said he has high hopes for this new partnership.

"The agreement with DSU will start our prosperous and productive cooperation between the two universities (此项协议将会开启我们两校之间卓有成效的合作新起点)," Dr. Zhao said.

The DSU-SWPU agreement was part of the DSU delegation’s 10-day trip to Poland and China. The 10 DSU students who were in Poland as part of a study abroad research program gave a June 20 presentation of its work to the delegation.

The DSU delegation then flew to Ningbo University of Technology in China to participate in a commencement ceremony for accounting students who had taken DSU courses toward their major. The graduating students received degrees from both Ningbo and DSU.

The trip to SWPU culminated the delegation's swing through Europe and Asia.