University of the West of Scotland’s research collaboration with China’s Hunan University of Science and Technology (HNUST), has been shortlisted in the ‘International Collaboration of the Year’ category of the prestigious, national Times Higher Education (THE) Awards 2018.
The THE Awards are widely recognised as the Oscars of the higher education sector and showcase talent, dedication and innovation across universities UK-wide.
The UWS and HNUST partnership shortlisted for ‘International Collaboration of the Year’ relates to a successful joint research project yielding globally relevant findings in relation to the exploitation of shale gas and the knock-on environmental impacts.
The research-based exchange at HNUST in Lianyuan city, Hunan province in Southern China, sees UWS Professor of Environmental Geochemistry, Andrew Hursthouse, working alongside colleagues in the University’s ‘Key Laboratory’, a Chinese Government-backed research centre, to examine shale gas exploitation, including methods for exploration and enhanced environmental protection.
Together, they are working to identify solutions to address and prevent environmental pollution, both in Hunan and other regions globally, where resource exploitation requires environmental protection.
UWS’ collaboration with HNUST combines skills and experience from UK-based environmental protection and waste management practices to provide an enhanced research capacity to the ‘Key Laboratory’ helping HNUST develop its international profile in this field.
Professor Craig Mahoney, Principal and Vice-Chancellor of UWS, said: “Our work with China’s Hunan University of Science and Technology crosses continents and is an excellent example of experts from different countries coming together to share knowledge and expertise to uncover solutions. I am thrilled that this partnership has been shortlisted in the ‘International Collaboration of the Year’ category of such highly-acclaimed national awards.”
THE editor John Gill said: “Times Higher Education is extremely proud to host these awards once again. In yet another record year for entries, and with over 70 institutions represented on the shortlist, it’s a genuine privilege for the THE team and our judges to read through these many and varied tales of excellence from all corners of the UK. It’s a significant achievement to make this shortlist, and we look forward to honouring all the finalists at the Grosvenor in November."
The THE ceremony takes place at the Grosvenor House Hotel on Park Lane in London on Thursday 29 November 2018.
