CDU Vice-Chancellor elected for key role in international university Alliance

Charles Darwin University (CDU) Vice-Chancellor and President Professor Scott Bowman has been appointed as the new Alliance Executive Chair for the Guangzhou International Sister-City Universities network. 

As the Executive Chair, Professor Bowman will oversee affairs concerning the annual meeting which will be held at Guangzhou University this year and next year’s Rector’s Council meeting which will be held at CDU. 

The Alliance of Guangzhou International Sister-City Universities (GISU) was formed in 2018 to promote educational development and cultural exchange among institutions across the world. 

Currently there are 18 members of the Alliance across 15 countries with members representing more than half a million students. 

On his appointment, Professor Bowman said he was honoured and looking forward to collaborating with others in the Alliance. 

“I am delighted to have been selected as Alliance Executive Chair. I am looking forward to working with the Secretariat Office and all partner universities to champion and foster the connections that have already been formed,” Professor Bowman said. 

“The Alliance can play a vital role in building international relationships, strong local businesses links and enduring partnerships between our institutions. In my role as Executive Chair, I will do everything that I can to build these connections and positively contribute to the Alliance.”

Guangzhou University President and Alliance Chair Professor Wei Minghai welcomed Professor Bowman into his new role. 

“Highly recommended by Commissioner and Emeritus Professor Glover AO, who served as our Executive Chair since the inception of our Alliance five-years ago, President Bowman’s extensive background and passion for international collaboration is an ideal match for our Alliance,” Professor Minghai said. 

“His recent experience in developing a new strategic plan for Charles Darwin University to become Australia’s most connected university will help our Alliance to become even better connected.”

“These connections, in addition to our university relationships, could also further foster and expand the partnerships among our cities, business and industry. His visionary leadership assures our Alliance will continue its success and better serve our communities we love to call home.”

Other members of the Alliance include University of Coimbra, University of Padua, Tampere University, Incheon National University, Middle East Technical University, University of the West of England, National Technical University of Ukraine“Igor Sikorsky Kyiv Polytechnic Institute”, Belarusian State University of Physical Culture.