Leebron named honorary professor during visit to universities in China and Vietnam

Rice President David Leebron was named an honorary professor of law at Tianjin University during his recent visit to universities in China and Vietnam as part of the ongoing effort to expand Rice’s international outreach and impact.

Tianjin, the first university in modern China, celebrated its 120th anniversary Oct. 2. Originally established as Peiyang University in 1895, Tianjin discontinued its School of Law in 1949. The law school was restarted this year in conjunction with the “double 60” celebration at which Leebron’s honorary professorship in law was announced.

President David Leebron presents the Tsinghua Global Vision Lecture in Beijing.

During his travel with University Representative Y. Ping Sun and senior assistant David Vassar, Leebron met with officials in Peking University and Tsinghua University, both in Beijing, to continue discussions about possible dual degree programs. He also presented the Global Vision Lecture at Tsinghua, where he discussed “The Future of University Education.” In Beijing Leebron also met with the vice minister for research in the Ministry of Education and with high school leadership at Tsinghua International School.

To build on ongoing academic and research collaborations and pursue ideas for new ones, Leebron visited Shanghai Jiaotong University and Tongji University in Shanghai, Hong Kong University in Hong Kong, University of Macau in Macau and Vietnam National University in Hanoi. He also visited Hanoi University of Science and Technology to explore the possibility of collaborating.

In addition to meeting with education officials, Leebron visited alumni in Shanghai, Beijing and Hong Kong to strengthen Rice’s connections around the world, one of the university’s priorities for the new century.