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£10 million China Centre for St Hugh’s

A new centre dedicated to China Studies is to be built on St Hugh’s College grounds, thanks to a £10 million donation from Hong Kong based philanthropist Dickson Poon CBE.

Dickson Poon is the founder of one of Hong Kong’s largest and most profitable retailing enterprises and is the owner of the Harvey Nichols Group in the UK.

The benefactor has said that he hopes that through a “balanced and dispassionate” understanding of Chinese culture, the new centre “will generate practical innovations and strategies to enhance the growing relationships between China and the West.”

St Hugh’s Bursar, Mary Kerr, said that the 6,600 square metre building would also serve to provide more accommodation for students.
Kerr said that the college had been planning to increase facilities, but that “it is extremely difficult to interest donors in such projects.
“Whilst discussing our plans with potential Hong Kong and Chinese donors, the Principal realised that planning a building that could also house China Studies would be a more attractive proposition.

“He was absolutely right and so far we have received donations and pledges of £13 million, but we need another £7 million.

“This is very exciting for St Hugh’s in terms of both increased facilities and prestige.”

The building is expected to house 70 ensuite rooms, a lecture space, study areas and kitchen and dining facilities.

Andrew Dilnot, the Principal of St Hugh’s, has said the he hopes that the Centre will enhance the College’s international credentials, and said he is anticipating scholarships for “outstanding students who want to study this fascinating and increasingly important part of the world.”

The China Centre will build on a 400-year relationship between Oxford University and China. The Bodleian Library acquired its first Chinese book in 1604, and there are now more than 40 academics involved in China-related study.

Construction on the China Centre will begin in 2012. In recognition of China’s increasing economic, political and cultural influence, the Centre will encourage collaboration between academics in Oxford and the East.

“Oxford already has more academics who work on China than any other European university and over a wider range of subjects,” Dr Rana Mitter, Acting Director of the China Centre, told Cherwell.
“Now the Centre will help us use that expertise to build further bridges to China’s major institutions through conferences, exchanges and new projects.”

“What happens in China will help to shape the century to come,” said Lord Patten, Chancellor of Oxford University and the last UK governor of Hong Kong.

“In Oxford we wish to be ever more involved in studying that exciting process.”

The country’s prominence is also reflected in the university’s large Chinese contingent. There are currently 750 Chinese students in Oxford.

“It is considered fashionable to study abroad. Eleven students from my local school alone received Oxbridge places this year” said first year student Kate Zhu.

The Centre will bring together academics from across the university’s currently fragmented China Studies department. The venture is directly supported by both the Humanities and Social Sciences Divisions.

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