Tag: EDU

ENT Fashion

Central Conservatory Preparatory School (CCPS) Chamber Orchestra Performs at the Kennedy Art Center in Washington

admin

WASHINGTON, February 10, 2015 /PRNewswire/ — Teachers and students of “Central Conservatory Preparatory School (CCPS) Chamber Orchestra” from Beijing, China, were invited to hold special performance on February the 9th, 2015 at the Kennedy Art Center in Washington, DC. A youth orchestra founded by Central Conservatory Preparatory School in 2014, CCPS Chamber Orchestra presented the U.S. audience with a chamber music concert. Since its foundation as a newly-emerging orchestra, CCPS Chamber Orchestra has maintained a focus of consistently pursing first-class music and a stellar reputation. CCPS insists on developing tacit cooperation between teachers and students, and the teamwork and collaboration ability of its students. Since the very beginning, the orchestra has been devoting itself to continuously finding and training domestic young players, building a distinctive international youth chamber music orchestra, and is boldly innovating and promoting Chinese youth chamber music orchestra’s march toward the world stage.

The Kennedy Art Center is one of the most famous cultural and arts organizations in the world, a holy place for top world culture and arts activities. It is known as the “National Grand Theater of America.” Every year, many famous performing artists from America and all over the world go to Washington and perform. CCPS Chamber Orchestra is one of the few school orchestras that is invited by the Kennedy Art Center.

The repertoire set of the concert was splendid. CCPS Chamber Orchestra played a number of classical pieces with which the audience was familiar, including Chinese and foreign movie music from “The Godfather” and “Why Is The Flowers So Red,” world famous repertoires “Las Cuatro Estaciones Portenas- Invierno” and “Czardas,” and a new work, “A Nodding From Her,” in which orchestral music and vocal music are combined.

Before performing at the Kennedy Art Center, CCPS Chamber Orchestra gave an international cultural exchange performance at the Music Hall of Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University. The team brought best Chinese wishes to teachers and students there.

To view the original version on PR Newswire, visit:http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/central-conservatory-preparatory-school-ccps-chamber-orchestra-performs-at-the-kennedy-art-center-in-washington-300033308.html

ENT Fashion

Guggenheim UBS MAP Global Art Initiative Expands with Appointment of Sara Raza as Curator for the Middle East and North Africa

admin

– Unprecedented Project of Residencies, Acquisitions, Exhibitions, and Education Programs Launches Its Third Phase

NEW YORK, Jan. 20, 2015 /PRNewswire/ — Richard Armstrong, Director, Solomon R. Guggenheim Museum and Foundation, today announced that London-based curator, writer, editor, and educator Sara Raza has been selected for the third curatorial residency of the Guggenheim UBS MAP Global Art Initiative. As the future Guggenheim UBS MAP Curator, Middle East and North Africa, Ms. Raza will join June Yap (South and Southeast Asia), Pablo Leon de la Barra (Latin America) and Guggenheim staff in realizing this multiyear program, which supports contemporary art, artists, education, and professional exchange in three of the world’s most diverse and dynamic regions.

Photo – http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20150115/169570

Building on MAP’s legacy, Sara Raza will work closely with the Guggenheim’s curatorial staff for a two year residency to research and acquire recent artworks by artists of Middle Eastern and North African origin that represent the most salient artistic and cultural practices of the region. Artworks chosen by Raza will enter the permanent collection and form the basis of an exhibition that will open at the Solomon R. Guggenheim Museum, New York, in 2016, before traveling to the region. She will also collaborate with education staff, as well as contribute to the project’s website.

Ms. Raza was nominated by a committee of esteemed experts on this region: Sam Bardaouil, independent curator, art historian, performance practitioner, and co-founder of Art Reoriented; Okwui Enwezor, Director, Haus der Kunst, Munich, and Director of the Visual Arts Sector for the 56th Venice Biennale; Reem Fadda, Associate Curator, Middle Eastern Art, Abu Dhabi Project, Solomon R. Guggenheim Foundation; Yael Reinharz, Executive Director, Artis; Nada M. Shabout, Professor and Director, Contemporary Arab and Muslim Cultural Studies Institute, University of North Texas; and Christine Tohme, independent curator and founding director of Ashkal Alwan – The Lebanese Association for Plastic Arts, Beirut.

About Sara Raza
Sara Raza holds a Masters in Art History and Theory (20th Century) from Goldsmiths College, University of London, and is currently a Ph.D. candidate at the Royal College of Art. She is the desk editor for West and Central Asia of ArtAsiaPacific magazine, and Head of Education and Public Programmes and Curator of the upcoming 2015 Public Art Festival, organized by Yarat Contemporary Art Space. Over the past ten years, Ms. Raza has organized numerous exhibitions at institutions including the Maraya Art Centre in Sharjah and Alaan Artspace in Riyadh. Ms. Raza co-curated Rhizoma, an exhibition of Saudi Arabian artists commissioned by Edge of Arabia at the 55th Venice Biennale (2014), along with several other international exhibitions at biennials and festivals. Ms. Raza has also served on several educational advisory boards and was a curator of public programs at Tate Modern (2006–08).

About Guggenheim UBS MAP Global Art Initiative
The Guggenheim UBS MAP Global Art Initiative is a multiyear collaboration that charts contemporary art practice in three geographic regions—South and Southeast Asia, Latin America, and the Middle East and North Africa—and encompasses curatorial residencies, international touring exhibitions, audience-driven education programming, and acquisitions for the Solomon R. Guggenheim Museum’s permanent collection. Launched in April 2012, the MAP initiative has brought more than ninety important artworks in all media into the museum’s collection under the auspices of the Guggenheim UBS MAP Purchase Fund, created new educational models with collaborators Asia Society Hong Kong Centre and NTU Centre for Contemporary Art Singapore, and reached hundreds of thousands of visitors through digital initiatives such as the interactive content aggregator MAP Navigator, the Currents educational archive, and online discussion forums. The initiative builds upon and reflects the Solomon R. Guggenheim Foundation’s distinguished history of internationalism, significantly increases the museum’s holdings of art from these dynamic communities, and makes contemporary art, practice, and education accessible on a global scale.

MAP Website: guggenheim.org/MAP
UBS Website: ubs.com/Guggenheim
Social Media: guggenheim.org/social
#GuggUBSMAP

For publicity images, visit: guggenheim.org/pressimages

CSE Fashion HOU

“Hong Kong Smart Gifts Design Awards 2015” Promotes Creativity and Helps Local Design to Go Global

admin

HONG KONG, Jan. 19, 2015 /PRNewswire/ —

To enhance local creativity and competitiveness, The Hong Kong Exporter’s Association (The HKEA) held the first “Hong Kong Smart Gifts Design Awards” in 2012 and gained much support from the industry. The “Hong Kong Smart Gifts Design Awards 2015” is now calling for entries. It provides a platform for corporates and the public to showcase their creativity and helps local gifts to go global. “Consumer gifts — Accessory Gifts” is newly added for more companies and designers in different product lines to join the competition. In addition, Creative Individual Division is now open for all ages of design talent and encourages people with different backgrounds to participate.

The competition aims to promote creative culture, to nurture the innovations of students and designers and to bring in more new design concepts to the industry. Furthermore, the organizer introduces local gift designs to the international market by participating in various trade exhibitions held in different cities. Winning products of last year were not only showcased in different local exhibitions and in Tokyo, Japan, but will also be showcased at the “Ambiente Frankfurt” in Germany, a world-renowned design fair under Design HK Pavilion, in February 2015. Also, the 15 awardees from Corporate Group, Student Group and Young Creative Group are invited to participate the 7-day Inspiration Trip under the Project of “Break the Cocoon, Sparkling Hong Kong!” in Frankfurt, Germany, with full sponsorship by Create HK. During the tour, the awardees will interact with local professional teams from the design and gifts industry and broaden their visions. This also helps to promote Hong Kong designs to the global arena and enhance their development.

The Awards have two entrant groups: Corporate Group and Conceptual Group. Six product categories will be included for the Corporate Group: “Corporate Promotional Gifts”, “Consumer Gifts: for Home”, “Consumer Gifts: for Workplace”, “Consumer Gifts: for Leisure”, “Consumer Gifts: Occasional Gifts” and the newly added “Consumer Gifts: Accessory Gifts”. The theme for Conceptual Group will be “Consumer Gifts: Accessory Gifts”. All submitted designs/prototypes have to be original or have been circulating in the market for not more than two years (prior to date of application deadline). For the Corporate Group, all entrants must submit the final products, whilst participants of the Conceptual Group (Student Division and Creative Individual Division) may submit products in 2D sketching/3D rendering or prototype with relevant design concept.

A total of 18 prizes will be presented this year to the Corporate Group — Gold, Silver and Bronze Awards for the top 3 entries, and Merit for 4th to 8th place in each entry category. For the Student Group, the judging panel will select 15 entries — Gold, Silver, Bronze Awards and 2 Outstanding Awards, and the rest will be presented with Merits. For Creative Individual, 3 products will be presented with Gold, Silver and Bronze Awards while other 5 will be presented with Merits. Judges will also pick their most favorite design out of all entries for the Judges Awards. Also, one design from Corporate Group and Conceptual Group respectively will be selected for the Green Awards.

Awarded products will be showcased in local and overseas exhibitions. The winners will also be awarded with cash coupons, opportunities for internship and the right to use Award Icon on the awarded products/ entries as a token of recognition. Furthermore, they will even have the chances to participate the Inspiration Trip to exchange with worldwide designers and industry practitioners to broaden their visions and be inspired with more innovative ideas to Hong Kong gift design market.

Application fee and Early-bird Scheme

Corporate Group: HK$600 / Product Category

Early-bird Scheme (Apply before 31 Jan 2015): HK$400 / Product Category

Creative Individual Group: HK$300

Student Group: Free

“Hong Kong Smart Gifts Design Awards” is now calling for entries. Please visit www.SGDA.org.hk or call the hotline at +852-2730-2029 for further details of the awards. The deadline for online registration is Sunday, 1 March 2015.

Awards Schedule

Awards Kick-off

9 January 2015

Deadline for Online Registration

1 March 2015

Result Announcement & Press Conference

March – April 2015

SGDA Awards Presentation Ceremony

27 April 2015

Roving exhibitions

Hong Kong Gifts & Premium Fair 2015

27 – 30 April 2015

d-mart, HKDI &IVE (Lee Wai Lee)

7 – 19 May 2015

Time Square, Causeway Bay

26 May – 4 June, 2015

PMQ

July, 2015

GIFTEX, Tokyo, Japan

8 – 10 July 2015

For further information about Hong Kong Smart Gifts Design Award 2015, please visit www.SGDA.org.hk.

About The Hong Kong Exporters’ Association

Founded in 1955, The Hong Kong Exporters’ Association (HKEA) is committed to closely liaising with local and overseas trade organizations, safeguarding the interests of the Hong Kong export trade and expanding business opportunities for Hong Kong exporters. We endeavor to develop Hong Kong as a trading hub for exporters. Currently, the HKEA corporate members specialize in diverse areas of export and re-export trade, as well as manufacturing.

By initiating the Hong Kong Premium Show 30 years ago, the HKEA keeps on serving the best interest of its members by co-organizing Gifts and Premium Fairs annually. It sets up HKEA Pavilion featuring innovative, distinctive and quality products to the world’s buyers to boost exports.

For further enquiry, please contact:

 

Natalie Leung

Red Asia Communications Limited

E-mail: natalie@redasia.com.hk

Tel: +852-3421-1461 / +852-6438-2274

Carol Lee

Red Asia Communications Limited

E-mail: carol@redasia.com.hk

Tel: +852-2696-2969 / +852-9277-5272
Health Care

Lilly Announces Diabetes Research Partnership with University of Surrey

admin

– The five-year collaboration with the UK public research university will focus on health outcomes for people with type 2 diabetes

INDIANAPOLIS, Dec. 22, 2014 /PRNewswire/ — Eli Lilly and Company (NYSE: LLY) today announced a five-year research partnership with the University of Surrey to study health outcomes, focusing on the effects of treatment in people with type 2 diabetes, which affects about 95 percent of those with the disease.

Using real-world evidence (routine data gathered from patients undergoing diabetes treatments), Lilly and the University of Surrey will focus on developing answers to commonly asked clinical questions about the continuum of diabetes care, such as the role and timing of injectable therapy, factors impacting adherence to prescribed medicines and the pattern and rationale of therapy following diagnosis.

“Living with diabetes is a long and involved journey for patients and their caregivers,” said Brad Curtis, Ph.D., principal research scientist, Lilly Diabetes medical affairs. “It’s important for clinicians to understand each step of that journey so patients might have a better chance to reach optimal outcomes. We are honored to collaborate with the University of Surrey on this important project.”

“Diabetes is a complex condition to manage, requiring each patient to be treated and supported in a variety of ways,” said Professor Simon de Lusignan of the University of Surrey. “Our research uses routine data to help busy clinicians incorporate innovation into routine practice, focusing on those diseases that pose highest risk. By understanding how effectively individual care plans work we can learn more about how to improve and enhance diabetes care broadly. Our aim is to ensure that those suffering with the disease receive treatments that allow them to continue living their lives in the fullest sense, with effective support in place.”

Initially the Lilly-Surrey collaboration will focus on some key questions:

  • Adherence to therapy: Why do some people follow their diabetes treatment plan while others do not? What role do healthcare providers play in improving adherence rates? What are the barriers and the long-term effects for those who do not adhere to their treatment?
  • Triggers for initiation of injectable therapy: People with type 2 diabetes often transition to different therapies in an effort to gain greater control of the disease. These transitions could include moving from an oral treatment to an injectable medicine, such as a glucagon-like peptide 1 receptor agonist (GLP-1) or insulin. Which treatment would be best? What factors influence a health-care professional’s decision in choosing an injectable option? What factors influence the patient’s acceptance of that decision?
  • Understanding perspectives of both the patient and healthcare professional: How can health-care providers gain a better understanding of the patient’s journey? What are the key questions they and the patient can ask each other? Can real-world perspectives increase understanding of why some patients accept transition from orals to injectables to insulin, while others are less enthusiastic?

Diabetes remains one of society’s most prevalent diseases. More than 387 million people worldwide have type 1 and type 2 diabetes.1 Type 2 diabetes is the most common, accounting for an estimated 90 to 95 percent of all diabetes cases. Diabetes is a chronic disease that occurs when the body either does not properly produce, or use, the hormone insulin. 1

About the University of Surrey
The University of Surrey is one of the UK’s leading professional, scientific and technological universities with a world class research profile and a reputation for excellence in teaching and research. Ground-breaking research at the University is bringing direct benefit to all spheres of life – helping industry to maintain its competitive edge and creating improvements in the areas of health, medicine, space science, the environment, communications, defense and social policy. Programs in science and technology have gained widespread recognition and it also boasts flourishing programs in dance and music, social sciences, management and languages and law.

About Lilly Diabetes
Lilly has been a global leader in diabetes care since 1923, when we introduced the world’s first commercial insulin. Today we are building upon this heritage by working to meet the diverse needs of people with diabetes and those who care for them. Through research and collaboration, a broad and growing product portfolio and a continued determination to provide real solutions—from medicines to support programs and more—we strive to make life better for all those affected by diabetes around the world. For more information, visit www.lillydiabetes.com.

About Eli Lilly and Company
Lilly is a global healthcare leader that unites caring with discovery to make life better for people around the world. We were founded more than a century ago by a man committed to creating high-quality medicines that meet real needs, and today we remain true to that mission in all our work. Across the globe, Lilly employees work to discover and bring life-changing medicines to those who need them, improve the understanding and management of disease, and give back to communities through philanthropy and volunteerism. To learn more about Lilly, please visit us at www.lilly.com, @LillyHealth on Twitter and newsroom.lilly.com/social-channels. P-LLY

1. International Diabetes Federation. IDF Diabetes Atlas, 6th edn. Brussels, Belgium: International Diabetes Federation, 2013. http://www.idf.org/diabetesatlas .

Refer to: Candace Johnson, +1-317-755-9143, johnson_candace_a@lilly.com
Amy Sutton, +44 (0) 1483 686141, a.sutton@surrey.ac.uk

Logo – http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20031219/LLYLOGO

ENT Fashion

PolyU to Open Hong Kong’s First Multi-user Ableton Sound Design Studio

admin

HONG KONG, Dec. 2, 2014 /PRNewswire/ — On December 3rd, The Hong Kong Polytechnic University will unveil a new state-of-the-art sound design classroom. Located in Jockey Club Innovation Tower, the School of Design (PolyU Design) has developed a digital production environment suited to the needs of the burgeoning multimedia industry. Famous Producer, Songwriter and owner of MoFo Music Kelvin Avon will kick off the opening of the new classroom and give a speech.

With new faculty and technical resources, PolyU Design will deliver a well-rounded curriculum for students interested in sound production for industries such as animation or music production; as well as game, mobile application, and multimedia environment design.

Dr. Bryan Rill, faculty in the MSc in Multimedia and Entertainment Technology programme, designed the new facility. Drawing on two decades of experience as a professional DJ and sound producer, Dr. Rill designed the classroom with creative flow in mind. “I wanted to build a unique space where students with can quickly learn the basics and have fun creating and collaborating together.” To do this the room has twelve standing workstations pipelined to each other and to a separate recording room by a Focusrite Dante audio distribution system.  Students can work at one station or bounce audio between stations to work collectively on projects.

While designed for a soft learning curve, the facility is also capable of professional audio engineering to meet industry standards. The classroom is the first in Hong Kong built specifically around Ableton Live, one of the world’s leading software and hardware manufacturers for sound production. PolyU and Ableton are looking to develop joint educational programs for students and outreach to the broader community, with announcements of events forthcoming.

Producer, Songwriter and owner of MoFo Music Kelvin Avon (aka Afreex), a living example of the career potential for sound designers, will kick off the opening of the new classroom. Kelvin has written and produced with a variety of UK Urban artists, artists in Sweden for Warner Chappell as well as songwriters such as Curtis Richardson and Sandra Nordstrum. He has placed original music for Sony Playstation games, commercial advertisements and Hollywood movies. His company MoFo Music Ltd co-founded with Jun Kung signed a worldwide publishing deal with Peer Music. Jun and Kelvin are currently becoming the most in demand production/writing team in Hong Kong and are broadening their reach into Mainland China, Taiwan and South Korea.

The Grand Opening of Sound Studio will begin at 1:00 PM at V322 Lecture Theatre at the 3/F of Jockey Club Innovation Tower, The Hong Kong Polytechnic University, Hung Hom, Kowloon. Reserve a seat at http://bit.ly/1uAgvhC    

Photo Download: http://bit.ly/1rqcW3r

About The Hong Kong Polytechnic University School of Design (PolyU Design)

As one of the top design schools in the world, The Hong Kong Polytechnic University School of Design is poised to play a leading role in design education and research by connecting and integrating the east and west cultures. The School provides top-notch programmes in advertising, environment and interior design, product design, communication design, interactive and digital media, at higher diploma, bachelor, master, and PhD levels.

Famous designers who graduated from PolyU Design include Raman Hui (Animation), Vivienne Tam (Fashion), Anthony Lo, (Automotive), Yip Kam-tim (Film), Dennis Chan (Jewelry), among others.

www.polyudesign.com

ENT Fashion GAM MEN

NetDragon Jointly Organizes 2014 Strait Wisdom Education Forum and Education Informatization Technology Conference

admin

HONG KONG, Nov. 27, 2014 /PRNewswire/ — NetDragon Websoft Inc. (“NetDragon”, Stock Code: 777), a leading developer and operator of online game and mobile Internet platforms in China, today announced that it successfully organized the 2014 Strait Wisdom Education Forum and Education Informatization Technology Conference in conjunction with East China Normal University on 25th November, 2014 at the Company’s Haixi Animation Creativity City in Fujian, China. The conference was endorsed by the National Education Information Technology Standards Committee, China’s Ministry of Education and the National Information Technology Standardization Committee.

Mr. Luyuan Liu, Chief Executive Officer of NetDragon commented, “The conference focused on the theme of smart Education in the Mobile Internet and Big Data Era in which educational reform can create new educational models, create paradigms for futuristic classroom and establish an ecosystem centered on the electronic bag. I am pleased to say that this was the most successful conference we have ever organized. The conference attracted a record number of participants, clients and business partners from over 14 provinces. We are honored to have had government officials and industry professionals attend from across China, Hong Kong and Taiwan. The education information industry developed rapidly in 2014. NetDragon has been following these trends closely and is ideally positioned to participate in the formulation of an education information system in order to speed up the roll-out of the education business with our unique mobile internet education platform. The successful organization of the Cross-Strait Smart Education Summit demonstrates NetDragon’s capability in the online education industry, the high recognition by the industry and at the same time shows NetDragon’s commitment to China’s online education sector and our efforts to participate in the formulation of the industry’s standards. The summit also plays an important role for NetDragon for rolling out the “Fair Education” strategy.

NetDragon is a leading force in China’s online education industry. NetDragon has been focusing its attention on the development of education information technology. The Company established Fujian Huayu Education Science and Technology Co., Ltd, a wholly-owned subsidiary in 2010. In recent years, the Company cooperated with Foxconn Technology Group to develop an educational tablet, Xinhuanet to develop a learning platform for its higher education business, and various Chinese universities and educational institutions to develop learning platforms and courses that combine big data analysis, cloud computing technology and gaming systems. In 2013, NetDragon formed a strategic partnership with East China Normal University, Beijing Normal University and Huazhong Normal University and worked with People’s Education Press on developing a unique innovative mobile education platform to support the National Science and Technology program – Research on key technology in developing education resources digital publishing and application.

The conference not only attracted a great attention from the general public and industry professionals, but also won high praises from community leaders and the media. As an organizer, NetDragon demonstrated its commitment to developing the education industry and strengthening its national and international influence. Industry experts and scholars shared their insights and experiences on deepening educational reform, advancing educational information, and building a learning community.

About NetDragon
NetDragon Websoft Inc. (HKSE: 0777) is a leading innovator and creative force in China’s mobile internet industry. Established in 1999, NetDragon is a vertically integrated, cutting-edge R&D powerhouse with a highly successful track record which includes the development of flagship MMORPGs such as Eudemons Online and Conquer Online, China’s number one online gaming portal, 17173.com, and China’s most influential smartphone app store platform, 91 Wireless, which was sold to Baidu in what was at the time the largest internet M&A transaction in China in 2013. Being a China’s pioneer in overseas expansion, NetDragon directly operates a number of game titles in over 10 languages internationally since 2003. NetDragon continues to strive for developing mobile games and software applications for users. In recent years, NetDragon has also becoming a major player in China’s online and mobile education industry as it works to leverage its mobile internet technologies and operational know-how to make fun and effective learning tools.

Health Care

Twenty Five Years On, the Convention on Rights of Child Remains Critical to Improve the Lives of Millions of Children

admin

On the 25th anniversary of the Convention of the Rights of the Child, millions of children still need

BEIJING, Nov. 20, 2014 /PRNewswire/ — As the world celebrates the 25th anniversary of the Convention on the Rights of the Child, UNICEF urges renewed commitment to make sure every child has their right to survival, development, protection and participation protected.

The first international treaty to articulate the entire complement of rights — economic, social, cultural, civil and political — relevant to children, the Convention is legally binding on all countries that have ratified it, and with its 194 State parties, it is the most widely ratified human rights treaty in history.

The lives of millions of children have improved since 1990, when the Convention took global affect. Countries have incorporated the provisions of the Convention in their laws, constitutions, policies and budgets. Children are now widely viewed differently — as holders of their own rights to health care, adequate nutrition, education, participation, freedom from violence and exploitation, and the time and space to play.

Since China ratified the Convention in 1992, there has been a dramatic reduction in poverty, with 605 million people lifted out of poverty between 1990 and 2011 as defined by the World Bank $1.25 standard. Under-five mortality was reduced by 80% between 1991 and 2013. While primary school enrolment is at almost 100 per cent for both boys and girls.

Despite this remarkable progress, there are still millions of children who are missing out on their fundamental rights and access to basic services, especially those in poor, remote and ethnic minority areas. The number of people living in poverty remains high at 82 million in rural China. Poverty disproportionately affects children: roughly 10% of China’s child population lives in poverty, while 25% of children (approx. 70 million) live in one of China’s 828 designated poverty counties.

“As we celebrate the 25th Anniversary of the Convention on the Rights of the Child and the results it has helped bring about for children, we must remember that by meeting our obligations under the Convention, we build the foundation of a strong as well as a just society,” said Gillian Mellsop, UNICEF China Representative. “We must also continue our work for universal implementation of the Convention, making the right of the most disadvantaged, vulnerable and excluded children to health, education, protection and equal opportunity a central public priority.”

China is making enormous progress for children — but for this progress to be sustained, it must reach every single child, especially the most vulnerable and the hardest to reach.

As part of its international obligation, China submitted its combined Third and Fourth State Party report on CRC implementation to the Committee on the Rights of the Child in 2010. In 2013, the Committee reviewed the report making a number of recommendations. These included:

  • To make sure there is better disaggregated data on children publically available and gathered through the official statistical system, as well as to include more international standards and indicators for surveys and data collection linked to children.
  • To focus on gender issues related especially to equality in access to health, education, as well as address negative social norms linked to girls.
  • To preserve the languages, cultures and traditions of ethnic minority children and strengthen their participation and local engagement.
  • To improve and address the legal status for migrant children and to address discrimination that impacts on their de facto lack of access to public education and health services.
  • To adopt a multidimensional set of criteria for accessing child poverty and that poverty be recognized as both a rural and urban phenomenon in China.
  • To seek to expand and build a community based welfare system that meets the needs of vulnerable children in their communities.

In China, an innovative social media campaign under the theme “Please listen to me” was launched today to mark the 25th anniversary of the Convention. The campaign aims to remind the public of the basic rights entitled to every child and inspire a nationwide discussion about the urgency of ensuring all children enjoy the same rights and achieve their full potential.

“I hope every parent can listen to children’s voice carefully,” said Chen Kun, UNICEF Ambassador for China. “Their views should be well respected.”

As part of the campaign, UNICEF also premiered the first children’s Chinese version of 
Imagine,” a world well-known song originated by John Lennon. This year the song was dedicated to UNICEF in advocating for child rights around the world.

Learn more about the CRC@25 advocacy campaign: http://www.unicef.cn/crc25/

Join the online discussion: “Please listen to me” http://www.weibo.com/p/1008080cefb83a07824381f0bca6c220149468/manage?default=83&from=page_100808&mod=TAB#place

About UNICEF

UNICEF promotes the rights and wellbeing of every child, in everything we do. Together with our partners, we work in 190 countries and territories to translate that commitment into practical action, focusing special effort on reaching the most vulnerable and excluded children, to the benefit of all children, everywhere. For more information about UNICEF and its work visit: www.unicef.org.

Visit our official website: www.unicef.cn

Follow us: Sina Weibo http://weibo.com/unicefchina Tecent Weibo http://t.qq.com/unicef

Health Care

China Connection to Build Bridge to Better Health in Australia

admin

SYDNEY, Nov. 18, 2014 /PRNewswire/ — A new research-led Chinese medicine clinic in Sydney, better patient outcomes and the potential for Australia to tap into the $170 billion global traditional Chinese medicine market are among the benefits set to flow from an agreement signed today in Canberra.

The Memorandum of Understanding is between world-leading Beijing University of Chinese Medicine (BUCM) and the University of Western Sydney (UWS), which is the home of the National Institute of Complementary Medicine (NICM). UWS and NICM have a longstanding relationship with BUCM in both research and education.

The focus of the new agreement will be the development of an Australian-first, high quality Chinese medicine integrative clinical service in Sydney, which will have a close connection to both clinical and laboratory-based research. It is hoped that the research will lead to the development of new treatments for unmet medical needs and new medicines for export around the world.

Australia is the only Western nation to have unified national registration of Chinese medicine practitioners and strict regulation of medicines, which delivers safe healthcare to thousands of Australians every year.

UWS Vice-Chancellor Professor Barney Glover says the well-established regulatory framework and the strong international reputation for complementary medicine research at NICM — assessed by the Australian Research Council as ‘well above world standard’ (the highest rating) — provides the ideal environment for the new partnership with BUCM to deliver benefits to patients and the nation’s economy.

“Together UWS and BUCM will conduct the research and clinical trials required to validate and translate Chinese medicines into an integrated healthcare setting in Australia,” says Professor Glover.

“The connections forged with the internationally regarded researchers at BUCM will further enhance the reputation of UWS as a centre of research excellence that delivers practical outcomes for our communities.”

Beijing University of Chinese Medicine President, Professor Xu Anlong, says the educational and research opportunities for students and academics from both nations created by this partnership are extraordinary.

“The establishment of the joint centre for Chinese medicine between BUCM and UWS will provide a world class facility integrating clinical service, education and research, together, to serve the Australian people and promote Chinese medicine to the world, particularly in developed countries like Australia,” says Professor Xu.

Director of NICM, Professor Alan Bensoussan says the close collaboration with BUCM will increase the capacity of scientists and clinicians to research Chinese medicine treatments.

“This agreement is the bridge that brings the research conducted in the laboratory closer to the patient’s beside where it can make a real difference to a person’s health and wellbeing,” says Professor Bensoussan.

“The closer collaboration with colleagues in China and the integration of research into a clinical setting will accelerate the development of more effective treatments for the most pressing and costly chronic health problems facing the world,” says Professor Bensoussan.

Media contacts:

Paul Grocott, UWS Media, +61406 429 304
Amanda Whibley, UWS Media, +61418 438 399

About University of Western Sydney (UWS)

UWS is a vibrant, modern university, located in one of the fastest growing regions in Australia – Greater Western Sydney, home to over 2 million people. UWS has over 40,000 students and 3,000 staff across nine campuses. 70 per cent of the University’s research in the last Excellence in Research for Australia (ERA) assessment was named as “world standard” or above. The University is also recognised for its high calibre teaching – receiving the Prime Minister’s Australian University Teacher of the Year Award for two consecutive years (2011 and 2012).

About National Institute of Complementary Medicine (NICM)

NICM at the University of Western Sydney was established in 2007 by the Australian and NSW Governments. It has over 50 researchers and higher degree research students. NICM’s research program focuses on the quality, safety, and effectiveness of complementary medicine, with a particular emphasis on Chinese medicine. NICM’s comprehensive research spans laboratory analysis, clinical trials and translation into practice. NICM is the only Australian complementary medicine research centre to receive the highest ranking of 5 in the Australian Government’s Excellence in Research for Australia (ERA) — signaling research well above world standard.

About Beijing University of Complementary Medicine

Founded in 1956, Beijing University of Chinese Medicine (BUCM) is one of the longest established higher education institutions for Chinese medicine in the People’s Republic of China. BUCM is the only university of Chinese medicine directly under China’s Ministry of Education with the support of China “211 Project”, a national development project committed to achieving first-class international-level university education. BUCM has 13 schools and offers degree programs at undergraduate, graduate and postdoctoral levels in Chinese medicine. BUCM delivers world-class degree programs, training and research across a wide range of subjects related to Chinese medicine and is committed to offering the best possible educational, cultural and social experience for its students. The University has a vibrant community of 22,308 students from different backgrounds and a wide range of facilities and top-ranked affiliated hospitals in Chinese medicine through which students and faculties may benefit from top-level teaching, research and clinical practice opportunities.