EU-China Development & Research Centre
The EU-China DRC, based at The Business School, was officially launched in Beijing in October 2003. Since then, the Centre has built up a network of research associates in Universities and organisations across China.
The Centre has been designed to facilitate:
- Provision of research services to the business community and public sector agencies in China
- Provision of academic expertise to current and planned research projects based in academic institutions in China
- Provision of consultancy services and advice to private and public sector organisations in China
- Provision of relevant contact information for economic cooperation between the EU and China
- Development of a Network of Partner Universities and other Organisations to facilitate joint research and joint funding initiatives.
Staff in The Business School and across the University who have specific interests in developing research contacts and research partners in China please contact Professor Simon Gao (details below).
The China-EU DRC encourages academic and professional staff to exchange knowledge in research, teaching and curriculum design through academic exchange. If you are based in China and interested in sending a visiting scholar or in receiving visiting scholars from the University please contact, in the first instance, Ms. Sunny Sun at the Edinburgh Napier University office in Beijing.
Update on the work of the China DRC
The work of the China DRC is continuing apace and a number of new developments have taken place in the last 12 months. We have received five Visiting Scholars from China in the past year to work on research projects with staff associated with the DRC. Six journal publications and four book chapters have appeared in that time.
Professor Gao has received research funding in collaboration with the Southwestern University of Finance and Economics and Professor Adams won a Leverhulme International Research Fellowship to bring Dr. Yin Zuowei to Edinburgh Napier this coming November. Dr. Omar visited Tsinghua University (ranked joint first in China) in May and we are now discussing research collaboration with Professor Tao Chen at Tsinghua. Jialiang Wang, PhD student, won an Emerald award for her paper presented at a major conference in Beijing in October and her paper along with Tony Leung’s paper, also a PhD student, will both be published in an Emerald Journal this year. Mr. Zhen Huang, a PhD student, has published an article in a research volume.
Professor Gao’s research paper (jointly with Professor Jinyu Zhu of Yunnan University of Finance and Economics) won the third prize of the best research papers by China’s accounting association. Professor Adams has been appointed co-editor with Yu Jiang of the Chinese Academy of Sciences in Beijing of the brand new Emerald Journal of Science & Technology Policy in China. The first call for papers was released in early March this year. Dr. Jane Zhang has recently developed a joint research project on performance assessment of China’s general insurance with staff from SWUFE and the project has been submitted for external funding. Professor Gao has recently been appointed as visiting professor to Harbin Commercial University and Helongjiang University of Science and Technology.
Stewart Falconer was appointed as Visiting Professor at Nanjing Audit University in July 2009.
In September 2008, the DRC jointly with SWUFE organized an international conference on accounting and finance issues in the insurance sector in Chengdu, China with over 200 participants from China, UK, US, Australia, HK and Taiwan. At least another two new PhD students from China hope to start their research in October this year and two academic visiting professors will visit DRC in the coming months. If staff or students are interested in any of the above please contact:
Professor Simon Gao, School of Accounting, Economics &
Statistics, NUBS s.gao@napier.ac.uk
Current Funded Projects
‘Learning and Academic Cultures’ A Collaborative Research Project in English language teaching and learning between Edinburgh Napier University and partner universities in China: Shandong University of Finance and Zhengzhou University of Light Industry.
Contact
For more information about the project, please contact the Project Leader, Dr Monika Foster. If you are based in China, please contact Prof Yang Huiqin at Shandong University of Finance.
Background
First of its kind, collaborative project set up in September 2005 to look at the differences between English learning and teaching methods in the UK and China in order to provide a more informed approach to teaching Chinese students.
Aims
The project aims to address the issue of effectiveness of English language learning for study and work environment in China and UK. It is also concerned with ensuring that students develop necessary skills and cultural awareness to succeed in their study abroad.
Outcomes
The project’s outcomes will provide teachers, students and educational developers with practical advice and self-study solutions to help the students succeed.
Project set up
The project consists of teams of lecturers and students at Edinburgh Napier University, Shandong University of Finance (SUF) and Zhengzhou University of Light Industry (ZZULI). Altogether there are 18 lecturers and 157 students involved in the project.
Forthcoming events
15-22 July ‘Bridging the Gap – Skills for Successful Study in English’ International Teacher workshop, LiJiang, China
This workshop will address the challenge of preparing Chinese students for study abroad and work on practical solutions for teachers in China and UK to successfully support the students.
Autumn 2007 - Preparation for joint publications of project outcomes in UK and China
Autumn 2007–Spring 2008 - Practical outcomes: teacher awareness and student skills programme.
- Comparative Analysis of Effectiveness of UK and Chinese Trade Associations in Promoting Bilateral Trade - Partner: Beijing Municipal Government
This is a study of the potential for UK industry to enter into the China market. This involved a survey of over 120 Trade Associations and the report was submitted to Beijing Municipal City Government in April 2005.
- The Economics and Export Marketing of Organic Food Products post-WTO Entry - Partner: Harbin University of Commerce.
This project is an economic and market analysis of the potential for organic food exports from China to the EU and North America. This work is scheduled to be completed by November 2007.
Other projects currently underway include:
- Product Standardisation - the degree of involvement of UK Firms in China - Partner: Harbin University of Commerce
- A Risk Analysis of the Local Government Gap in Shandong Province - Partner: Shandong Finance Institute
- The Development of Public Private Partnerships in China - Partner: Shandong University of Finance.
Partner Organisations
The Centre works in collaboration with a wide range of partner organisations for the various research programmes undertaken. Currently, the partner organisations involved in the Centre are:
Partner (Contact)
Edinburgh Napier University (Professor Simon Gao)
Shandong Finance Institute (Dr. Qi Haodong)
Liaoning Institute of Technology (Professor Wang Jianzhong)
Beijing Materials Institute (Professor Zhu Runhui)
Harbin University of Commerce (Professor Dezhang Wang)
Zhejiang University of Technology (Professor Gengui Zhou)
Beijing International Technology Cooperation Centre (Professor Wang Qun)
North East Agricultural University (Professor Guo Xiangyu)
Zhengzhou University of Light Industry (Dr. Meng Li)
Sichuan University (Dr. Li Dan)
Beijing Municipal Government (Senior Researcher, Wang, Lie Jei)
Research Centre for China-EU Economic Cooperation (Beijing) (Professor Youfu Xia)
Nanjing Audit University
Research Outputs
The staff currently involved in the Centre's research projects have produced, and are currently producing, a wide range of journals, papers, textbooks and articles.
Journals
- Adams, J. & Mohadeb, P ‘Higher Education: options for future funding in China.’ World Review of Science, Technology and Development (2) 2 June 2005 pp 137-153.
Journals (Forthcoming)
- Adams, J. & Mohadeb, P. ‘Globalising Higher Education: Finance, Constraints and Policy Options.’ China International Journal of Comparative Education, November 2005
- Adams, J., Young, A. & Zhihong, W. ‘Public Private Partnerships in China: Rationale, System and Constraints.’ International Journal of Public Sector Management, Spring 2006.
- Dezhang, W., Lu, S., Adams, J., & Omar, M. ‘Market Structure and Enterprise Competitiveness: Strategic Choices Facing China’s Organic Food Industry’ World Review of Science, Technology and Development, March 2006.
School of Accounting & Economics Research Papers
- ‘Do Multinationals Look Before They Leap? – The Impact of Economic and Social Characteristics on Market Entry.’ M.Omar and D. Boyd, S&E Research Paper Number 10, March 2005 – ISBN: 1 87386950 9.
- ‘Seizing Opportunities and Facing Threats: Post Industrial Companies and Trade in Emerging Markets.’ M. Handley-Schachler & M. Omar, S&E Research Paper Number 7, November 2004 – ISBN: 1 87386947 9.
- ‘Public Provate Partnerships in China: Rationale, System and Constraints.’ J. Adams, A. Young and W. Zhihong, S&E Research Paper Number 8, December 2004 – ISBN: 1 87386948 7.
Other Outputs
- Textbook: Adams, J., Juleff, L. and Dezhang Wang Managerial Economics for Decision Making (Mandarin Edition) China Renmin University Publishers (CRUP), Beijing, June 2005. ISBN7-300-06451-5 (284p).
The textbook translation was funded by Harbin University of Commerce under the direction of Professor Dezhang Wang. CRUP is the foremost academic publisher in China
- Article: Adams, J. ‘The Future Shape of Higher Education in China and the UK: A Possible Scenarios.’ In British Business in China Magazine, June 2003 pp5-8.
- Adams, J. & Lijie, W. ‘An Analysis of UK Industry Associations and the Implications for Potential Cooperation in the Peoples Republic of China.’ Report to The Commerce Research Bureau of Beijing Municipal Government, April 2005.
Staff in The Business School have been invited by the World Review of Science, Technology and Sustainable Development (WRSTSD) to edit a special issue of the Journal on China – to e published in Spring 2006 - Special Issue on: “Economic and Social Development in China: Sustainability Constraints” Guest Editors: Professor John Adams and Dr Maktoba Omar, The Business School, Edinburgh Napier University.
Conference Papers
- Adams, J. & Mohadeb, P. ‘Globalising Higher Education: Finance, Constraints and Policy Options.’ International Symposium on Economic Globalization & the Education Industry April 7—9 2004, Beijing Normal University.
PhD Projects
Business School staff are currently supervising three funded PhD projects on China:
- A Comparative Analysis of the Development of International Financial Centres in China: Shanghai and Hong Kong (J. Adams & M. Pettigrew).
- Supply Chain Management: Dynamic Competition between Hong Kong and the Pearl River Delta Nine (J. Adams & R. Masson).
- Foreign University Development in China: Implications for Suppliers and the Domestic Economy (J. Adams).