MoU signed by African Studies Centre and Beijing Foreign Studies University

The African Studies Centre in Leiden and the Beijing Foreign Studies University signed a Memorandum of Understanding on Monday 29 June 2015 in Leiden. In the MoU the ASC and BFSU declare that they want to cooperate in order to enhance the quality and relevance of African Studies in Leiden and Beijing, and to support African Studies in Africa and elsewhere. Beijing Foreign Studies University (established in 1941) is regarded as the cradle of diplomats in China and is renowned for its cultural and foreign languages studies.

The ASC and BFSU want to collaborate in the following areas of mutual interest:

• Research collaboration in African Studies in general
• Supporting triangular collaboration between China, Europe and Africa, both between academic institutions and together with policy makers, diplomats, and other practitioners dealing with Africa
• Exchange of staff and students
• Support for each other’s Library, Documentation and Information Services, and the use of those services by partners in Africa
• Support for teaching at various levels
• Support for outreach functions on and in Africa

The MoU was signed by Prof. Yan Guohua (Vice President, BFSU) and Prof. Ton Dietz (Director, ASC), in the presence of Prof. Sun Xiaomeng (Dean, School of Asian and African Studies, BFSU), Prof. He Jing (Deputy Director, Office of Confucious Institutes, BFSU), Mr Jos Damen, (Head, ASC Library) and Prof. Benjamin Soares (Chair, ASC Researchers' Assembly).

• 
  From left to right: Mr Jos Damen, Prof. Sun Xiaomeng, research assistant of
  the ASC, Prof. Yan Guohua, Prof. Ton Dietz, Prof. Benjamin Soares, Prof. He Jing.