China visit first step in international dental collaboration

The visit could see greater collaboration in dental teaching and research between Beijing and Plymouth
From left to right: Professor Oliver Hanemann, Associate Dean Research, PUPSMD, Dr Kai Yang, Director of Education and Professor Yuxing Bai, Dean, both of the School of Stomatology, Capital Medical University, and Professor Robert Sneyd, Dean, PUPSMD
From left to right: Professor Oliver Hanemann, Associate Dean Research, PUPSMD, Dr Kai Yang, Director of Education and Professor Yuxing Bai, Dean, both of the School of Stomatology, Capital Medical University, and Professor Robert Sneyd, Dean, PUPSMD

A visit from senior management at Capital Medical University in Beijing to Plymouth University Peninsula Schools of Medicine and Dentistry (PU PSMD) is the first step in a collaboration between the two organisations.

Professor Yuxing Bai, Dean of the School of Stomatology (oral medicine) at Capital Medical University, and Professor Kai Yang, the School’s Director of Education, visited Plymouth with a view to developing research and education collaborations.

They were impressed by PU PSMD’s research profile and its innovative methods of teaching, such as the Dental Education Facilities where dental students treat NHS patients under the supervision of qualified dental health professionals as part of their studies.

It is hoped that the visit will result in an official partnership between the two organisations, especially around dentistry, starting with research collaboration with postdoctoral researchers and graduate students by providing special institutional and governmental financial support.

An ambition of the partnership would be to make joint applications for UK and Chinese research grants.

The visit ended with an invitation to Beijing for senior team members at PU PSMD.

Professor Robert Sneyd, Dean of Plymouth University Peninsula Schools of Medicine and Dentistry, commented: 

“Potentially this is a very exciting collaboration for us. As our researchers continue to make their impact felt on the international research stage, so we should be looking for such international partnerships. We are looking forward to taking this to the next level.”
According to the Guardian University Guide 2016, Plymouth University Peninsula School of Dentistry is the top-ranked dental school in England. The Capital Medical University School of Stomatology is ranked sixth out of 100 dental schools in China.