In a two-day event, China’s second International Symposium on the Postdoctoral System took place in Hengqin New Area, Zhuhai, from Nov. 10^th - 11^th. Nearly 100 scientific experts and postdocs, from more than 10 countries, as well as institute administration staff and governmental postdoctoral system managers, attended the event.

Dr. Tamer Tolba, an international postdoctoral fellow from the Institute of High Energy Physics (IHEP) was chosen along with several other international and national experts to report on his experience of the postdoctoral environment in China.

This symposium aims at promoting exchanges and cooperation in postdoctoral work between China and foreign countries, and accelerating the internationalization of China’s postdoctoral system. IHEP was one of the first scientific research institutes to establish a post-doctoral research station in China in 2006. Since then, IHEP has recruited 46 foreign post-doctoral staff, with 22 there at present.

The meeting addressed the advantages and opportunities that overseas scientists have when they decide to pursue their academic career in China. The international participants also discussed extensively and in an open discussion environment the common concerns and challenges that foreign scientists face when they come to work here.

At the end of the symposium, the government officials present declared that the concerns and recommendations raised by the speakers and during the discussions would be studied carefully in order to further improve the Chinese postdoctoral system.

With the first symposium held last year, this was the second time that Chinese and foreign experts and scholars gathered in Hengqin, Zhuhai, to discuss the development of the postdoctoral system in China. The event provided helpful input for further accelerating the internationalization of China's postdoctoral system and improving the management and service of postdoctoral work, and also provided a great boost for the optimization of cooperation and training of our foreign postdocs.

Tamer Tolba delivered a speech at the symposium (Image from www.chinapostdoctor.org.cn)