“This collaboration...will serve the needs of many students to become equipped for leadership through careful thought, just action, and faithful care of the world.”
— Dr. Philip Laird, Vice President of Innovation, Global and Academic Partnerships
In virtual signing ceremony on April 19, 2021, Trinity Western University solidified its partnership with Caofeidian College of Technology in Hebei, China. This partnership establishes TWU’s first FAR Centre facilitated learning location in China.
FAR Centres are TWU micro-campuses located around the globe where local educational facilitators coach students taking TWU courses towards TWU degrees.
During the signing ceremony, representatives of Trinity Western – including, President Dr. Mark Husbands and Vice President of Innovation, Global and Academic Partnerships Dr. Philip Laird – were present at TWU’s Minoru location in Richmond, B.C., Canada. Other TWU representatives attended the ceremony online. Mr. Geoffrey Feng, TWU Executive Director of Global Connections, hosted the signing ceremony, which began at 7:00pm Pacific Time (10am on April 20, 2021 Chinese Standard Time).
“The future of universities resides in the focused determination of our collective efforts and our perseverance to build cultural bridges and pathways that will guide students to achieve their highest potential,” said Dr. Laird during the ceremony.
“This collaboration we are signing today is one such bridge that will bring together two cultures and two institutions, who face each other from opposite sides of the Pacific Ocean,” he continued. “Through this bridge, we will serve the needs of many students to become equipped for leadership through careful thought, just action, and faithful care of the world.”
The signing represents the cumulation of many years of collaboration and planning. Since 2016, Trinity Western has been in discussions with various partners about the establishment of an educational FAR Centre with Caofeidian College of Technology at the Beijing Caofeidian International Vocational Education City in Hebei, China.
Trinity Western is grateful to those who have worked to bring this relationship together, including partners from the Beijing Caofeidian International Vocational Education City, Caofeidian College of Technology, 8 Education Group, and Hebei Cultural Exchange Association.
Envisioning the future, Dr. Laird said, “To all our future students who will walk along the path we are creating through this signing together, we humbly ask that you hold deeply the lessons that you learn through your education, practice your developed skills with diligence and perseverance, respect the beauty of creation, and protect the people who are placed under your care.”
As a global Christian university, Trinity Western has FAR Centres located at Stella Maris College (Chennai, India), Jagannath University (Jaipur, India), Bishop Stuart University (Mbarara, Uganda), and Meadow Hall University (Nigeria). By enrolling into a FAR Centre, students can complete up to half their TWU degree by taking online classes with onsite coaching and facilitator support, before completing the next part at Trinity Western in Canada.
See also — Trinity Western Global FAR Centres expand to provide education to leaders worldwide:
TWU News
About Trinity Western University
Founded in 1962, Trinity Western University is Canada’s premier Christian liberal arts university dedicated to equipping students to establish meaningful connections between career, life, and the needs of the world. It is a fully accredited research institution offering liberal arts and sciences, as well as professional schools in business, nursing, education, human kinetics, graduate studies, and arts, media, and culture. It has four campuses and locations: Langley, Richmond-Lansdowne, Richmond-Minoru, and Ottawa. TWU emphasizes academic excellence, research, and student engagement in a vital faith community committed to forming leaders to have a transformational impact on culture. Learn more at www.twu.ca or follow us on Twitter @TrinityWestern, on Facebook and LinkedIn.
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Photo by Marc-Olivier Jodoin on Unsplash.