Professor Liu Gonghui
Areas of Interest
Education, InternationalHonorary Award
Honorary Doctor of Science, 2011Biography
Professor Liu Gonghui is President of Beijing Union University (BUU), one of China's biggest and most forward-thinking universities which is pioneering a new era of higher education globalisation. Under Professor Liu's dynamic leadership, Beijing Union University is a major force in higher education in Beijing, with a specific vision to support Beijing's development as a world city by preparing students to form the city's future graduate workforce.
Born in Huang Xian, Shandong Province on the eastern coast of the People's Republic of China, Professor Liu has been engaged in higher education for many years, being responsible for academic teaching, academic research activities and administration. He has published widely in his expert area of gas and petroleum extraction and was the chair of research activities for a national 863 Project carrying out research on Pressure Management in Drilling Technology and Nitrogen and Natural Gas Recycling Technology and Facilities. He has participated in a number of key projects, including: 95 Scientific Project of China Petrol, the Innovative Funding of China Petrol Group & Key Research Projects of China Petrochemical Holdings and China Oceanic Petrol Corporation. He has authored or co-authored over 100 academic publications of both national and international importance and has been the patent winner for one State Invention Award and one Second Award for Science and Technology Progress from the Ministry of Education.
Beijing Union University was established in 1985 by bringing together specialist branches which were originally part of more than 30 key universities in Beijing, including Peking University and Tsinghua University. Professor Liu was appointed President of Beijing Union University in April 2007 by the Ministry of Education of People's Republic of China.
BUU currently has around 34,000 students, comprised of over 20,000 undergraduates, over 8,000 higher vocational college/diploma students, 1000 postgraduates, and over 4,000 adult education students. There are 15 colleges in areas such as business, management, biochemical engineering, mechanical and electrical engineering, software, teaching, tourism and culture. It offers 125 different bachelor degrees and diplomas and has programmes in English, including a summer programme which introduces students to the Chinese language, Chinese culture and gives advice on how to do business in China.
Adhering to the education philosophy of 'serving the people', BUU has trained more than 150,000 graduates in the past 30 years and has made a large contribution to the prosperity of China?s economy.
Under Professor Liu's leadership, BUU has successfully established links with universities around the world to promote academic co-operation. These partnerships span each of the continents, enabling faculty and student exchanges, joint research and other ventures. The universities not only learn from each other, but benefit their students, business and communities in terms of gaining a global outlook to support their growth, leadership and success. In 2010, Professor Liu established a League of University Globalisation bringing all of BUU's partners together for the first time to promote greater understanding of the importance of educational globalisation. This initial meeting has resulted in many new partnerships and initiatives within the group, in locations as diverse as Russia, Korea, Canada, Vietnam and the UK, on topics relevant to the development of higher education around the world.
We are delighted to be working with Professor Liu and Beijing Union University as our major partner in Beijing. We have been delighted to find we share the same vision to be both important to our region but also play an important part nationally and internationally and that our universities and our students will make a key contribution to the enhancement of social, cultural and economic well-being wherever they are.
Citation
"Vice Chancellor, it is my pleasure to read the citation for Professor Liu Gonghui for the award of Honorary Doctor of Science.
Professor Liu Gonghui is President of Beijing Union University (BUU), one of China's biggest and most forward-thinking universities which is pioneering a new era of higher education globalisation. Under Professor Liu's dynamic leadership, Beijing Union University is a major force in higher education in Beijing, with a specific vision to support Beijing's development as a world city by preparing students to form the city's future graduate workforce.
Born in Huang Xian, Shandong Province on the eastern coast of the People's Republic of China, Professor Liu has been engaged in higher education for many years, being responsible for academic teaching, academic research activities and administration. He has published widely in his expert area of gas and petroleum extraction and was the chair of research activities for a national 863 Project carrying out research on Pressure Management in Drilling Technology and Nitrogen and Natural Gas Recycling Technology and Facilities. He has participated in a number of key projects, including: 95 Scientific Project of China Petrol, the Innovative Funding of China Petrol Group & Key Research Projects of China Petrochemical Holdings and China Oceanic Petrol Corporation. He has authored or co-authored over 100 academic publications of both national and international importance and has been the patent winner for one State Invention Award and one Second Award for Science and Technology Progress from the Ministry of Education.
Beijing Union University was established in 1985 by bringing together specialist branches which were originally part of more than 30 key universities in Beijing, including Peking University and Tsinghua University. Professor Liu was appointed President of Beijing Union University in April 2007 by the Ministry of Education of People's Republic of China.
BUU currently has around 34,000 students, comprised of over 20,000 undergraduates, over 8,000 higher vocational college/diploma students, 1000 postgraduates, and over 4,000 adult education students. There are 15 colleges in areas such as business, management, biochemical engineering, mechanical and electrical engineering, software, teaching, tourism and culture. It offers 125 different bachelor degrees and diplomas and has programmes in English, including a summer programme which introduces students to the Chinese language, Chinese culture and gives advice on how to do business in China.
Adhering to the education philosophy of 'serving the people', BUU has trained more than 150,000 graduates in the past 30 years and has made a large contribution to the prosperity of China's economy.
Under Professor Liu's leadership, BUU has successfully established links with universities around the world to promote academic co-operation. These partnerships span each of the continents, enabling faculty and student exchanges, joint research and other ventures. The universities not only learn from each other, but benefit their students, business and communities in terms of gaining a global outlook to support their growth, leadership and success. In 2010, Professor Liu established a League of University Globalisation bringing all of BUU's partners together for the first time to promote greater understanding of the importance of educational globalisation. This initial meeting has resulted in many new partnerships and initiatives within the group, in locations as diverse as Russia, Korea, Canada, Vietnam and the UK, on topics relevant to the development of higher education around the world.
We are delighted to be working with Professor Liu and Beijing Union University as our major partner in Beijing. We have been delighted to find we share the same vision to be both important to our region but also play an important part nationally and internationally and that our universities and our students will make a key contribution to the enhancement of social, cultural and economic well-being wherever they are.
Professor Liu has taken up and succeeded in the significant challenge to lead Beijing Union University in its mission. His drive to put internationalisation and international links firmly on the agenda as an institutional priority and his successful initiative to create a new international network of partners has made a dramatic difference to his staff, students and partners around the world.
For his outstanding achievements in global education we honour him today.
Vice Chancellor, it is my pleasure to present Professor Liu Gonghui for the award of Doctor of Science, honoris causa."