Napier principal wins friendship award from China

Published on Wednesday 1 October 2008 09:49

A CITY university principal has become the first British citizen to receive the International Yellow River Friendship Award.

Professor Joan Stringer, principal and vice-chancellor of Napier University, was given the award by China's Henan province in recognition of her individual commitment to developing higher education in China and Napier's long-standing links with both the Henan province and China as a whole.

Napier University has a number of ties with higher education institutions in China and this award is recognition of Prof Stringer's contribution to the development of an international education exchange between Henan province and Scotland.

Prof Stringer said: "It is a wonderful honour to receive this Yellow River Friendship Award. We have formed excellent links with many institutions in the province.

"China is one of the fastest-growing economies in the world. There is a huge demand for university education and as such there are opportunities for Scottish Higher Education institutions to help meet that demand and share knowledge. I'm proud that Napier University is at the forefront of this drive."

The Yellow River Friendship award is a National Day Award presented to foreigners who have made an outstanding contribution to the economic development and social progress of the people of central China.