Capital Medical University (CMU), Beijing:

Strengthening international collaborations will further promote the College and University’s’ growing international reputation, in line with the University’s ‘Way Forward’ agenda. The Capital Medical University project is a key strategic initiative to drive inward and outward international student mobility, develop collaborative degree programmes and further enhance international research links.

A CMU Steering Group has been established, chaired by Dr Dianne Watkins, College Dean for International with membership from Schools across the College.  Three task and finish groups are also in place to develop proposals in the areas of Undergraduate, Postgraduate Taught and Postgraduate Research.

Dr Dianne Watkins, College Dean for International and Claire Morgan, Associate Dean Quality and Standards visited Capital Medical University, Beijing in March to commence due diligence and meet with key senior academics at CMU to agree high level proposals and priorities for this collaboration.

An action plan has been developed based on discussions held during the visit. Mapping of curricula and modules, research interests and post graduate taught provision is being undertaken within the College of Biomedical and Life Sciences to develop definitive collaborative proposals.

If you would like to find out more about the project or would like to be involved, please contact Dr Dianne Watkins (WatkinsSD@cf.ac.uk) or Manjit Bansal ( bansalm@cf.ac.uk).

Alignment of Medicine, Dentistry and Post Graduate Medical and Dental Education (PGMDE) :

The development Group met on 20th March to consider the proposals for establishing a School of Medicine and Dentistry. It has been agreed to have a period of reflection for the next few weeks while we review the current position and review the next steps.

The University Executive Board (UEB)  has been updated on the project progress and a paper will now be presented to UEB in May 2014.

Research Themes:

In May 2013 College Board formulated and provisionally agreed five broad research Themes intended to enable the College to fully realise the objectives of The Way Forward 2012-2017.

The proposed Themes were subsequently scoped by five Convenor led Task and Finish Groups. The results of this scoping exercise were collated in a subsequent report (August 2013), which confirmed that there was sufficient research allied to each of the five proposed Themes to justify further development and that each Theme was supported by a robust underpinning rationale.

The College Research Themes comprise:

  • Cancer
  • Immunology, Infection and Inflammation
  • Mind, Brain and Neuroscience
  • Public Health and Primary Care
  • Biosystems

A version of the Research Themes scoping report has been provided to UEB for information. The Theme Convenors are currently working on the development of an implementation plan. It is intended that moving forward, the Themes will act as a focus for the College’s investments.