Source: Department of Physical Education
Written by: Department of Physical Education
Edited by: Wang Dongmei

On October 21-22, 2016, a delegation led by Dr. Mary-Beth Cooper, President of Springfield College (SC), visited Sun Yat-sen University (SYSU) to attend the 2016 International Symposium on Sports Training, and celebrate the 20th anniversary of the collaboration between SYSU and SC. Members of the SC delegation also included Dr. Stuart Jones, Vice President for Enrollment Management; Dr. Tracey Dexter Matthews, Dean of the School of Health, Physical Education and Recreation; Dr. Mary Susan Guyer, Chair of the Department of Exercise Science; and Prof. Deborah Helen Alm, Director of the International Center.

On the afternoon of October 21, Prof. Li Mengfeng, Vice President of SYSU, met with the SC delegation in Zhongshan Building on Guangzhou South Campus, accompanied by Ling Chunxian, Party Secretary of the Department of Physical Education, and Fan Zhenguo, Director of the Physical Education Department.

Prof. Li Mengfeng extended a warm welcome to Dr. Mary-Beth Cooper, and introduced SYSU’s history, the construction of five campuses in three cities (Guangzhou, Zhuhai and Shenzhen), the goal of talent cultivation, and the development planning of physical education. He pointed out that SYSU and SC have maintained close and cooperative relationship for twenty years with many faculty and student exchanges. He expressed the hope to deepen collaborations in faculty development, academic exchange and rehabilitation medicine.

Dr. Mary-Beth Cooper introduced the general situation of SC, especially its goal of physical education, and its emphasis on developing both physical skills and psychological qualities. She also expressed the hope to extend and deepen the cooperation between the two universities.

After the meeting, the SC delegation came to the Department of Physical Education to attend a seminar on celebrating the 20th anniversary of cooperation in physical education between the two universities. SYSU attendees included undergraduate students, postgraduate students, athletes, as well as faculty and students who have participated in the exchange program at SC. At the seminar, the participants reviewed the exchange and cooperation program under the support of the Fok Ying Tung Foundation, talked about the study and life at SC, and discussed issues including athlete training and management.

On October 22, the 2016 International Symposium on Sports Training, jointly hosted by SYSU and the Branch of Sport Training of China Sport Science Society, was held in Swasey Hall on Guangzhou South Campus of SYSU. All members of the SC delegation; Mr. Luo Jianbin, Deputy Director of Education Division, Department of Science and Technology, General Administration of Sport; Prof. Wu Ying from Shanghai University of Sport; Prof. Zhang Liqing and Prof. Zuo Qiong from Beijing Sport University; as well as experts from other sport universities nationwide participated in the symposium.

At the opening ceremony of the symposium, Prof. Li Mengfeng delivered a welcome speech. There were four keynote lectures at the symposium: “The Recruitment of Sports Training Major” by Mr. Luo Jianbin, “The History of Relationship between SYSU & SC and the Value of Institutional Partnerships” by Dr. Mary-Beth Cooper, “Evolution of Athletic Training and Strength and Conditioning in the United States” by Dr. Mary Susan Guyer, and “Physical Education and Sport Training Programs” by Dr. Tracey Dexter Matthews. The participants also held group discussions on the “Cultivation Models of Sports Training Major”. At the closing ceremony, the participants spoke highly of the symposium as a well-organized international symposium on sport training with fruitful results.