Cooperation between universities boosts understanding of China, says Croatian educator

Photo taken on Nov. 6, 2020 shows the autumn scenery at the campus of Tsinghua University in Beijing, capital of China. (Xinhua/Xing Guangli)

Starting from next semester students from Zagreb School of Economics and Management and China's Tsinghua University School of Economics and Management will be able to spend either one semester or one year studying at the other establishment.

ZAGREB, June 26 (Xinhua) -- Europe needs to have a better understanding of China, a Croatian educator has said in the wake of a cooperation agreement signed between the Zagreb School of Economics and Management (ZSEM) and China's Tsinghua University School of Economics and Management.

The agreement was signed at the ZSEM campus in the Croatian capital last week.

"Europeans sometimes tend to be a little bit too Eurocentric, so all of our public education here is very much focused on Europe, and maybe also the United States," Mato Njavro, dean of the ZSEM, said in a recent interview with Xinhua.

The agreement is "the culmination of all our efforts to build better relations between Croatia and China," he said.

Photo taken on Nov. 6, 2020 shows the autumn scenery at the campus of Tsinghua University in Beijing, capital of China. (Xinhua/Xing Guangli)

Under the agreement, starting from next semester students from the two higher education institutions will be able to spend either one semester or one year studying at the other establishment.

The agreement also outlines a framework for bilateral academic exchanges and joint research programs.

"It is a unique opportunity for us and we value it very much. Tsinghua University (...) is one of the best, if not the best university in China," Njavro said.

He said he hoped that more Chinese students coming to study in Croatia would help bring a better understanding of China, as well as improve relations between the two countries.

Students enjoy themselves on a street with cherry blossoms at Shandong University of Science and Technology in Qingdao, east China's Shandong Province, April 24, 2018. (Xinhua/Wang Peike)

Besides Tsinghua University, ZSEM has inked cooperation agreements with seven other Chinese universities, including Zhejiang University and Shandong University. This bodes well for cooperation between Croatia and China, Njavro said, underlining that the two countries have enjoyed friendly relations since the establishment of diplomatic ties in 1992.

Founded in 2002, ZSEM is one of the leading business schools in Croatia, and has established partnerships with over 150 universities in 60 countries around the world.