Vice-Chancellor honoured

Vice-Chancellor Professor Colin Riordan has been awarded a Honorary Professorship by Peking University in China.

Peking University is the top University in China and one of the premier universities in the world. It is ranked within the top 50 world-leading universities and Peking's Health Science Centre is ranked a leader in medical education, research and health services in China.  

The award is the highest honour that is given by Peking University.

Cardiff University's links with Peking University date back to 2001 when a University-wide agreement was signed to establish a framework for potential collaboration in academic research, exchange of teaching materials and joint supervision.

This relationship has developed over the years, thanks in large part to Professor Wen Jiang from the School of Medicine and Peking University's Professor Ji Jiafu.

In February this year The Cardiff University - Peking University Joint Cancer Institute was launched which brought leading experts from both universities together to build research capacity to tackle the most urgent questions in beating cancer.

The award ceremony was hosted by Professor Yang Ke, the Executive Vice-President of Peking University, on behalf of Professor Enge Wang, Peking's President.

Professor Ke said: "Peking University has decided to confer its prestigious Honorary Professorship to Professor Riordan, recognising his marvellous achievements in the Humanities, education and his efforts in promoting mutual understanding and collaboration between Peking University and Cardiff University.

"Professor Riordan has been very active in promoting the role of UK universities abroad and we are very privileged to have him as our Honorary Professor.

"Cardiff University is one of the most creative and inspiring universities in the UK, providing high quality research led education. The linkup between Peking and Cardiff could result in significant advances in cancer research and treatment through co-operation in research, training and development, grant funding and the exchange of scholars. The Cardiff University-Peking University Joint Cancer Institute marked an important milestone for our collaboration. By combining our strength through the new Institute, large scale research, education and clinical trials in cancer can be conducted. I wish to take the opportunity to thank Professor Riordan for his great support to our collaboration."

On receiving the honour, Professor Riordan said: "It is really an enormous honour to have the Professorship conferred by a university with status such as Peking University.  Last week, I accompanied the UK's Chancellor of the Exchequer George Osborne and London Mayor Boris Johnson, who gave a lecture to Peking University and was very impressed by the calibre of the students.  The collaboration between Cardiff and Peking in cancer research has been excellent to date and the Cardiff-Peking Joint Cancer Institute has a bright future."

This award is part of a longer visit to China for Professor Riordan who has a range of engagements including meeting alumni and other partners and friends of Cardiff University.

The Vice-Chancellor joins the University's Nobel Prize winning academic, Professor Sir Martin Evans and Professor Wen Jiang from the School of Medicine in receiving the Peking University honour.