The New Zealand-China NCD Research Collaboration Centre (NCD CRCC) has joined forces with the China Scholarship Council (CSC) and three New Zealand Universities to launch a PhD scholarship scheme for Chinese students interested in undertaking research on non-communicable diseases (NCDs).
The CSC–NCD CRCC Joint Funding Programme provides for up to 10 scholarships a year for Chinese students to undertake PhD research on NCDs. Students will be supervised by leading scientists at one of three NZ universities – Auckland University of Technology, the University of Auckland and the University of Otago.
The Memorandum of Understanding between the CSC, NCD CRCC and the three universities is the first of its kind as the CSC usually signs agreements with individual universities. NCD CRCC Director Jim Mann explains the importance of this initiative:
“There is huge interest from scientists in New Zealand and China in developing research collaborations for the mutual benefit of both countries. But it takes time and a lot of hard work to develop flagship collaborations between leading scientists. While we’re working on this, we can also start growing the next generation of research collaborations. The PhD students who take up this opportunity will become the research leaders of tomorrow and their links with New Zealand will be strong. In time we hope to make this agreement bi-lateral and extend it to exchanges for young scientists.”
