Visiting scholar builds China-Queensland coal links
Published on 02 May, 2005
CQU visiting scholar Tianyu (Helen) Hei has helped build coal mining links between her home country of China and Queensland.
Ms Hei is a human resources specialist with the Shandong Bureau of Coal Mine Safety and Supervision.
Under supervision by CQU staff, she has helped build links between China and the Queensland mining industry.
These links have played an important part in the signing of a Cooperation Agreement on Mine Safety Education and Training between the Queensland Government's Department of Natural Resources and Mines and the Shandong Bureau of Coal Mine Safety and Supervision.
Ms Hei has also helped establish a research link between CQU, the Cooperative Research Centre for Integrated Engineering Asset Management (of which CQU is a member) and the Shandong University of Technology.
All parties look forward to further cooperation and exchanges, with CQU to support research and education in the field of coal mining operations and safety.
Ms Hei spent 2004 as a visiting scholar at the Faculty of Business & Law, under the supervision of Professor Peter Smith (a leader in fatigue management research).
She has worked on her English language skills with guidance from Dr Susan Yates.
The visitor has attended (as an auditing student) undergraduate and postgraduate lectures.
She spent a week at Rockhampton City Council, including two days with Mayor Margaret Strelow.
Ms Hei helped CQU and local industry representatives to prepare for their visit to the 2004 Coal Mine Expo in Shanghai.
She gave presentations, including one on 'Reflections on Coal Mine Safety in China' for mine safety trainers and exporters.
Ms Hei returned to China during the Australian summer but is now back at CQU Rockhampton enrolled in a Bachelor of Learning Management degree (having gained two years leave of absence from her job in China).
She said the learning management study was directly relevant to her employment back in China in the area of mine safety training. It would also provide plenty of opportunities to brush up her English skills.
She is continuing her voluntary assistance with language translation, research connections, coal industry links and student exchange projects.