Oxford Day 2014: In Celebration of the Oxford University-CUHK Collaboration over the Past Decade

Over the weekend of the 12th of December, 2014, Professor Emily Chan, the Directors of the Collaborative Centre for Oxford University and CUHK for Disaster and Medical Humanitarian Response (CCOUC) and the Centre for Global Health (CGH), led nine members of the JC School of Public Health and Primary Care (JCSPHPC) Faculty and staff to represent The Chinese University of Hong Kong (CUHK) at Oxford Day – a two-day symposium hosted by Oxford University at St Hugh’s College in Oxford. The Symposium was designed to celebrate and showcase ten years of Oxford-CUHK collaboration, and to identify areas where the two institutions may work together more closely in the coming few years. Members of Oxford University’s Delegation consisted of renowned Professors such as Prof Sir Rory Collins, Prof Virginia Murray, Prof Jan Armitage, Prof Kazem Rahimi and Prof Zhenming Chen.

Over the first day of the Symposium, a number of Oxford University and JCSPHPC professors shared about past collaborative endeavours jointly undertaken by members of both institutions. The key areas emphasised included the disaster and humanitarian work in rural China facilitated by the CCOUC, bioethics and personalised medicine, the China Kadoorie Biobank Study and data sharing. In the afternoon, JCSPHPC Professors shared about the various research, teaching and exchange opportunities available at CUHK. The subsequent round table discussion invited the input from all symposium participants regarding the next chapter of the Oxford-CUHK partnership.

On the second day, closed-door meetings were held between key members of Oxford University’s Nuffield Department of Population Health and CUHK JCSPHPC Faculty to negotiate outcomes and opportunities for practical collaboration over the short and long term. Key areas for tangible Faculty-level partnership were identified, such as joint summer-school teaching, mutual research projects and collective development of course curricula. Initiatives for students included cross-cultural research and field exchange opportunities were also discussed. It was agreed that the collaboration would be structured in a way to take advantage of each institution’s expertise, enabling the strengths of each institution to complement the other. Some specific areas highlighted in particular included disaster and medical humanitarian response as well as chronic disease management. Bioethics and clinical trials training were identified as areas where co-teaching could be facilitated. At the end of the session, Sir Muir Gray CBE arrived to deliver a captivating and interactive seminar regarding Better Value Healthcare.

Overall, Oxford Day 2014 gave a brilliant opportunity for JCSPHPC Faculty to establish and renew ties with their Oxford counterparts. CGH and CCOUC would like to extend particular appreciation to Dr Premila Webster and her team for hosting and organising such event, and to Professor Sian Griffiths for providing much impetus for collaboration between both sides over the past decade.

Professor Emily Chan discusses the collaborative work of the CCOUC.	Dr. Premila Webster gives the welcoming speech and describes the impetus for the Conference.
Dr. Premila Webster chairs Saturday’s round table discussion.	CUHK and Oxford delegates discuss short- and long-term outcomes for the Oxford-CUHK partnership.
Sir Muir Gray CBE facilitated a seminar on Better Value Healthcare.	Sir Muir Gray presents a variety of his works to CUHK faculty members.
Dr. Premila Webster(right) accepts a souvenir from CCOUC.	Professor Sian Griffiths (left) accepts a souvenir from CCOUC.

Professor Jane Armitage accepts a souvenir from CCOUC.