EdUHK and Tianjin University of Sport Sign MOU to Enhance Collaboration
EdUHK and Tianjin University of Sport Sign MOU to Enhance Collaboration
After making a pledge as an Elite Athlete Friendly University to promote university education among local elite athletes, The Education University of Hong Kong (EdUHK) signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with Tianjin University of Sport today (20 April) to formalise the two universities’ cooperation in the next two years to promote multiple pathways for elite athletes outside Hong Kong.
The signing ceremony took place in Tianjin University of Sport, and amongst the witnesses were representatives from the Administration of Sports of Tianjin Municipality. On the same occasion, scholarships were granted to awarded athletes for their upcoming studies in Hong Kong.
Under the new collaboration framework, the academic and research staff of both universities will strengthen their ties in carrying out different research projects. To name a few, they will conduct joint research into the application of STEM in the field of physical education, and into the requirements of students with special educational needs (SEN) related to physical education. The two universities will also organise academic conferences, forums and professional training workshops to raise their academic standard in the field of sport and to enhance the performance of different university sports teams.
During the signing ceremony, EdUHK’s Vice President (Academic) Professor John Lee Chi-kin also announced two awardees for the EdUHK Postgraduate Degree Program Scholarship for Elite Athletes to help Tianjin elite athletes pursue a master’s or doctoral programme at EdUHK. One of the scholarships went to Mr Liu Guanjun, a four-time champion of the national rugby sevens, who will come to Hong Kong this September to pursue the Master of Social Sciences in Sports Coaching and Management programme. Another awardee will be nominated by the Administration of Sports of Tianjin Municipality following a stringent selection process.
The Master of Social Science in Sports Coaching and Management, a brand new programme offered by the Department of Health and Physical Education, is tailored the rising local demand for sports coaches and managers. This is the only master’s programme in Hong Kong that combines sports coaching and management, a unique blend that helps equip athletes for a dual career path in both fields.
Professor Lee said, “EdUHK has been striving to promote dual career pathways for local elite athletes while encouraging them to engage in university education. Tianjin University of Sport has long been renowned for its dedicated training of elite sports talent. The MOU will synergise the edge of two universities, benefiting the development and training of athletes in the Mainland and Hong Kong.”
Professor Ji Chengshu, President of Tianjin University of Sport, expressed his gratitude for the scholarships offered by EdUHK in support of Mainland athletes’ pursuit of further studies. He said, “The signing of this MOU lays a solid foundation for upcoming visits by academic staff and students, collaborative research efforts, and academic exchanges. Combining our strengths and expertise will help push forward the country’s endeavours in education.”
Established in 1958, Tianjin University of Sport is dedicated to training outstanding athletes, sports coaches, and physical education teachers in high schools and universities, as well as other sports professionals in the mainland. The university has produced exceptional performances in rowing, rugby, badminton and tennis, with students winning in international races, including the World Championships, Asian Games and National Games in their capacity as professional athletes. In 2017, the university collaborated with the Chinese Volleyball Association to establish the China Volleyball Academy, with Ms Lang Ping the first Dean, to train professional volleyball players for the country.
