The first stage: China-ASEAN College of Marine Science and Technology
Situated in the Xiamen University Malaysia Campus, the China-ASEAN College of Marine Science and Technology enjoys the support of Xiamen University's core academic discipline of marine sciences and technology -- and is one of the first batchof China-ASEAN Maritime Cooperation Fund projects. The project received approval from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Ministry of Finance in 2014, with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs giving it its current name. It was selected as one of the marine sciences and technology cooperation platforms in the Belt and Road Initiative-based Maritime Cooperation Plan, jointly released by the National Development and Reform Commission and the former State Oceanic Administration. The college mainly focuses on the construction of the following six areas:
1. Disciplinary Development
The college now has two bachelor's degree programs and one master's degree program. The bachelor's program in marine biotechnology was approved by Malaysia's Ministry of Education in 2016 and the program in marine environmental chemistry was approved in 2018. The master's program in marine biotechnology was approved in 2019.
2. Talent Training
The college enrolled the first group of 41 students in September 2016 and it currently has 206 students, including 133 Chinese, 70 Malaysians and three Indonesians. Its undergraduate students successively won silver medals at the third and fourth China College Students' 'Internet+' Innovation and Entrepreneurship Competitions.
3. Teaching Staff
The college currently has 14 faculty members, including 10 full-time teachers who are from China, Canada, Australia, Malaysia and Singapore, as well as three Malaysian laboratory managers and one Malaysian administrator.
4. Scientific Research
The college successfully applied for the 2019 Basic Research Fund program sponsored by Malaysia's Ministry of Education. Over 40 academic papers have been published under its name.
5. Facilities
The college's main building -- named after Dai Liangye, President of the Malaysian Chinese Chamber of Commerce -- was completed in February 2017. In April, the marine research vessel the Tan Kah Kee was delivered to Xiamen University and joined the research fleet of the State Oceanic Administration. In May, an experimental center in the Da Liangye Building started operating.
6. Cooperation and Exchanges
The college has signed a number of cooperation deals with the University of Malaya, Indonesia's Bogor Agricultural University, the Hanming Education Science Foundation and the Human Life Improvement Foundation. It has held a number of international academic conferences, including the 2019 China-Nanhai Conference and the China-Indonesia International Symposium on Ocean Sustainable Development. Based on these efforts, Xiamen University launched a training program for undergraduate students to practice at sea. Under it, teachers and students at the college took the Tan Kah Kee out to undertake scientific research along a Xiamen-Sanya-Malaysia-Xiamen route, between July and August 2019. In addition, the college launched an open day activity during the visit to Malaysia of the research ship.
In order to follow China’s strategy of becoming a maritime power and meet the needs of ASEAN countries, the college will continue to strengthen its cooperation with ASEAN institutions related to education, scientific research and maritime affairs. It will aim to be a leading international maritime talent training and scientific innovation base, as well as to make contributions to building a world-class academic discipline in the marine sciences and in technology.
A working team for building the China-ASEAN College of Marine Science and Technology visits the University of Malaya. [Photo provided to xmicc.org.cn]
The college and the University of Malaya jointly hold the 2019 China-Nanhai Conference. [Photo provided to xmicc.org.cn]
A group picture at a summer camp. [Photo provided to xmicc.org.cn]
Scientific research is conducted at sea. [Photo provided to xmicc.org.cn]
Teachers and students at the college visit Malaysia on the Tan Kah Kee marine research vessel. [Photo provided to xmicc.org.cn]