A Demo Project as an International Center of ... - ACS Publications

Downloaded by CORNELL UNIV on August 29, 2016 | http://pubs.acs.org Publication Date (Web): August 17, 2016 | doi: 10.1021/bk-2016-1219.ch004

Chapter 4

School of Pharmaceutical Science and Technology of Tianjin University: A Demo Project as an International Center of Excellence in China Jay Siegel* School of Pharmaceutical Science and Technology, Tianjin University, Tianjin, 300072 China *E-mail: [email protected].

Tianjin city is home to many firsts in China, including not only the first and oldest international hotel in China, but also the first university for modern higher education - Tianjin University (Peiyang University) in 1895. The founding of this university was important not only in that it brought China into the industrial age and led to many major industrial achievements for China (first car, first plane, first telecommunication network), but also because it was founded through the joint efforts of Chinese entrepreneur SHENG Xuan Huai and American educator Charles D. Tenney. That fact has special relevance to this book concerning international research, because it demonstrates the roots of such programs back to the end of the 19th century, and the beginning of modern China (Read, T. T., Popular Science Monthly, Volume 80, May 1912). Tianjin University, now celebrating its 120th anniversary, is again in the spotlight for international training in Chinese higher education. The School of Pharmaceutical Science and Technology (SPST) at TJU is an international demonstration project, recognized by the Chinese State Authority of Foreign Experts Association (SAFEA) as the 1st National International Center of Excellence (NICE). The charge of SPST is to develop a fully international school within a 985 Chinese University system. This task requires one to address, at the international level, issues of administration and logistics, curriculum reform, instrumentation and infrastructure © 2016 American Chemical Society Cheng et al.; Chemistry without Borders: Careers, Research, and Entrepreneurship ACS Symposium Series; American Chemical Society: Washington, DC, 2016.

development, as well as student and faculty recruitment. This article summarizes my perspectives and experience as the Dean of SPST and the successful efforts to develop an internationally recognized research institution during my first 2 years at SPST.


Introduction China and the United Kingdom have a history of joint educational ventures. In 2004, the University of Nottingham opened the University of Nottingham Ningbo, China (UNNC) in Ningbo, China. In 2006, the University of Liverpool and Xi’an Jiaotong University partnered to found Xi’an Jiaotong-Liverpool University, the first Sino-Anglo university between two research-led universities. The U.S. was not far behind in joint developments in China. Recently, in 2014, New York University partnered with East China Normal University of Shanghai to form New York University Shanghai, the first American college to receive independent registration status from China’s Ministry of Education. Soon we will see the establishment of many more Sino-western joint ventures as branch campuses in China.

Tianjin University Tianjin University was the first modern higher education institution in China when it was established as Peiyang University in 1895 (1). Recently, Tianjin University has endeavored to become a major international player in higher education (2). In July 2000, Tianjin University established the School of Pharmaceutical Science and Technology (SPST) (3) (Figure 1), with official enrollment beginning in 2001. SPST proved its worth and was designated as an “International Center of Excellence (NICE) in China” in 2014 by the Chinese Ministry of Education and State Authority of Foreign Experts Association. Only two other charter institutions received this honor in China, and the Tianjin model has been the leading template for universities wishing to develop future programs.

School of Pharmaceutical Science and Technology (SPST) SPST is led by a dean and a party secretary, who oversee a cadre of professional associate deans, a cohort of professorial vice deans, professional committees, and International Advisory Council. The inaugural International Advisory Council is composed of a self-managed group of individuals: Dr. Chris Abell of the University of Cambridge, Dr. Donald Hilvert of ETH-Zurich, Dr. Michael Marletta of UC Berkeley, Dr. Thomas J. Meade of Northwestern University, Dr. Wang Shaomeng of the University of Michigan, and Dr. William L. Jorgensen of Yale University. 32 Cheng et al.; Chemistry without Borders: Careers, Research, and Entrepreneurship ACS Symposium Series; American Chemical Society: Washington, DC, 2016.


Figure 1. Part of the SPST building at Tianjin University. (Courtesy of Jay Siegel)

SPST staff also includes many high-level experts, with a score of recent new hires from abroad, including many new Junior and Senior 1000-talent awardees. The new institute is also fortunate to have several high level important advisory and part time contributors, including Aaron Ciechanover, a Nobelist at Technion; J. Fraser Stoddart of Northwestern University; Erik J. Sorensen of Princeton University; and Johannes Zuilhof of Wageningen University. The span of research crosses a number of topics related to pharmacy and pharmaceuticals, including proteomics, molecular science, computation science, supramolecular chemistry, traditional Chinese medicine, biology, and pharmacoeconomics. Recently, the success of SPST has resulted in the university elders deciding to move on a vision for a new Health Sciences platform, initially rolling together SPST with the School of Life Science (SLS) and with plans to add Bioinformatics, Bioengineering and Public Policy to the mix.

Internationalization of SPST SPST aims to establish itself internationally, with high level talent and emphasis on international standards. The new curriculum being established will be taught in English, with many local Chinese students up to the challenge and additional students recruited from traditionally English-speaking areas, such as the US, UK, EU, Hong Kong, Singapore, and Canada. SPST takes an 33 Cheng et al.; Chemistry without Borders: Careers, Research, and Entrepreneurship ACS Symposium Series; American Chemical Society: Washington, DC, 2016.


innovative approach to education by decreasing the required number of in-class teaching hours and courses in favor of increased hands-on and experimental learning opportunities. SPST’s International Undergraduate Experimental Class of Pharmacy permits students to choose a scientific or professional track. The scientific track allows students to obtain a Ph.D. and ultimately become research and development scientists or academics. The professional track allows students to earn a M.S., and go onto careers as international or Chinese-registered pharmacists. As students progress in their programs, they gain the opportunity to pursue careers in an increasing number of disciplines, learning the full scope of pharmacoeconomics. Students with a B.S. can pursue careers in pharmacy. Students with a M.S. can pursue more specific subdisciplines, such as medicinal chemistry, pharmaceutical administration, pharmaceutical analysis, pharmacology, microbial and biochemical pharmacy, and pharmacognosy. Those with Ph.D.s could pursue careers in applied chemistry (pharmacy), public health and pharmaceutical administration. To create an environment suitable for modern research and education, SPST is in the process of a large renovation project in Tianjin University. The vision at the Health Science platform level comprises several buildings on the old campus in the Nankai District of Tianjin, near the cultural heart of the city. Renovation and restructuring of the infrastructure will be based upon a world class teaching undergraduate lecture and laboratory space, designated as a demonstration project of the Tianjin municipality, and a collection of core research infrastructure platforms to motivate and facilitate multidisciplinary research through collaboration of expert groups. The primary building is well-equipped for research, featuring biology laboratories, molecular science center, pharmaceutical and pharmacology facilities, computational modeling and pharmacy administration areas, and instrumental and analytical platforms. New developments include tutorial rooms, classrooms, teaching labs, a coffee bar and discussion lounge, and other integrated areas for student activities. Students will have access to lockers and Wi-Fi to create a class identity with the greater Health Science platform. A class of master technicians is being recruited, who will provide regular and professional maintenance to research equipment to ensure continued operation. Safety officers will routinely inspect the safety of the laboratory personnel, their experiments, and the facilities. The goal is to be a safe and sane working environment with state-of-the-art facilities. To improve international accessibility, SPST has created an English website (3) for release and archiving of information. The web platform provides access to e-learning materials and online training platforms, as well as a database on students and faculty with automated update capabilities. In development are e-notebook, core platform scheduling, and inventory systems. SPST provides international student exchange, student group learning and communication opportunities. Seniors in high academic standing, with direct privileges at SPST, can study overseas for six months to work on their graduation theses and gain cultural experiences. SPST is developing an international network within the material science, chemistry, and pharmacy fields. Specific Memoranda of Understanding for scholar exchanges have been signed with University of Sao 34 Cheng et al.; Chemistry without Borders: Careers, Research, and Entrepreneurship ACS Symposium Series; American Chemical Society: Washington, DC, 2016.


Paulo, University of Zurich, University of Padova, University of Edinburgh, and Northwestern University. Institutions of higher education, such as UCLA, UC San Diego, Princeton University, University of Milan, Technion - Haifa, Hong Kong University, University of Southern California, University of Auckland, University of Bristol and several schools in Thailand are targeted to join Tianjin University in a Global Excellence Consortium. To help build a world-class school comprising global talent, SPST has created career-development fellowship positions to attract highly talented scholars to pursue research and academic careers in China. Similar to a habilitation in Germany, these positions allow young principal investigators to develop their independent research further under the mentorship of a senior faculty. It is expected that those doing well will move quickly into professor track positions. The internationalized scientific platform of SPST is the pride of Tianjin University. The campus has been visited by prominent figures like Mrs. Helle Thorning-Schmidt, Premier of Denmark, selected as a venue for the Alexandria Summit, and captured the attention of the American Chemical Society (4), and China’s Friendship Award (5). We have successfully recruited foreign-trained chemists to Tianjin University. In fact, the ease with which they have been recruited surpassed our expectations. Remarkably, about two-thirds of the job offers made were accepted, amounting to roughly three dozen positions filled in only three years (6). Even academics who were tenured at prestigious U.S. and EU universities have relocated to Tianjin to join the new platform (6). In summary, SPST represents an excellent research and career opportunity for students and scholars interested in multidisciplinary work in chemistry, biology, medicine, and pharmacy. It seems that SPST is well on its way to become a world-class fundamental drug research center staffed by a competent and renowned international faculty and the corner stone of a greater Health Science platform at Tianjin University.

References 1. 2. 3. 4.

5. 6.

The history of Tianjin University is given in the following website; https:// en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tianjin_University (accesed 4/11/16). Tianjin University website; http://www.tju.edu.cn/english/ (accesed 4/11/16). School of Pharmaceutical Science and Technology at Tianjin University; http://www.tju.edu.cn/pharm/ (accesed 4/11/16). Tremblay, J. F. American Takes Charge In Tianjin. Chem. Eng. News 2013, 91 (43), October 28, 2013. http://cen.acs.org/articles/91/i43/AmericanTakes-Charge-Tianjin.html (accessed 2/7/2016). Wang, L. China’s Friendship Awards to Jay Siegel and Peter Stang. Chem. Eng. News 2015, 93 (44), 35. Tremblay, J. F. More than ever, China seeks foreign chemists. Chem. Eng. News 2016, 94 (10), 25–27. 35 Cheng et al.; Chemistry without Borders: Careers, Research, and Entrepreneurship ACS Symposium Series; American Chemical Society: Washington, DC, 2016.

A Demo Project as an International Center of ... - ACS Publications

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