8月3-4日，由诺丁汉大学孔子学院以及诺丁汉大学亚洲商务中心共同组织的百度文库高考状元代表团一行25人访问诺丁汉，受到了诺丁汉市长的亲切接见，并与诺丁汉大学签订了战略合作协议，达成在人才交流、项目基金、技术支持等方面的合作意向，同时双方商讨了在大数据以及其他领域等方面进行合作的可能性。
状元团一行由百度文库总监李小婉女士带队，共有来自北京市、天津市、陕西省、山东省、吉林省、湖南省、新疆自治区的部分高考状元共10名参加，其中3名2014年高考状元已经就读清华大学、北京大学，其余7名为2015年新生状元也即将就读清华大学。作为全国首个组织新科高考状元赴外国顶尖高校访问、交流与学习的代表团，百度高考状元团主题为：科技是人类的信仰。状元团一行造访了诺丁汉大学两位诺奖得主所在领域：诺丁汉大学核磁共振中心以及诺丁汉大学经济学院，还参观了诺丁汉大学主校区以及银禧校区物理研究中心、成果转化展示中心。中央电视台驻英记者站全程跟踪报道，并采访了诺丁汉大学副校长余海岁教授以及孔子学院陈建院长。双方会谈在愉快轻松的氛围中结束，并开启了双方合作的全新篇章。
图一百度文库-高考状元访问团与诺丁汉大学副校长、诺丁汉孔子学院院长，亚洲商务中心主任等合影
8月3日下午，诺丁汉市长Councillor Jackie Morris在诺丁汉市政厅接见了百度状元团一行。市长发表了欢迎辞，百度文库总监李小婉女士发表讲话，对此次状元启程英国高校之旅寄予厚望，也对市长百忙之中拨冗接待表示了衷心感谢。随后，绿林好汉“罗宾汉”带领状元团一行参观了诺丁汉城堡，感受了盗侠罗宾汉侠义故事发源地的历史传统。
图二诺丁汉市长亲切会见访问团一行
8月4日上午，百度状元团一行到访诺丁汉大学思源楼。诺丁汉大学副校长Chris Rudd教授、余海岁教授、亚洲商务中心主任Jason Feehily先生、亚洲商务中心高级主管何敏女士、当代中国学学院副院长Sarah Dauncey副教授、诺丁汉孔子学院陈建院长、孟金蓉院长等出席会面。首先，Sarah Dauncey副教授代表当代中国学学院致欢迎词，一口标准的中文让状元一行深感钦佩。随后，陈建院长代表孔子学院发表讲话，对百度状元团一行到访表示热烈欢迎。亚洲商务中心Jason Feehily随后介绍了诺丁汉大学、亚洲商务中心及目前已经达成合作的部分公司与企业，并希冀此次百度诺丁汉协议的签署。最后，百度文库总监李小婉女士致辞，介绍了百度、百度文库及此次状元团项目初衷，为初入大学或者将入大学开展人生新旅程的学子们开拓更广阔的视野，为中外年轻学子创造更好的交流机会。
图三诺丁汉孔子学院英方院长陈健博士接受中央电视台采访
中午，在百度状元团一行以及亚洲商务中心、孔子学院以及英国学生志愿者的共同见证下，诺丁汉大学与百度签署了校企合作协议。双方将在接下来的时间里将展开人才、技术、基金等方面的全面合作。
图四百度文库与诺丁汉大学合作签约仪式
下午，状元团一行拜访了核磁共振中心。诺丁汉大学2003年诺贝尔医学奖得主Sir Peter Mansfield及其夫人会见了百度及状元一行，并亲自回答了状元们的踊跃提问。80多岁高龄，坚持治学不懈，其人格魅力深深为状元们折服。随后，状元们参观了以诺贝尔经济学奖得主Sir Clive Granger先生命名的经济学院大楼，诺丁汉大学经济学院副院长Simon Gaechter教授以及和 Steve Leybourne教授热情接待了状元团一行，并与初入经济学系的状元们亲切交流。
图五诺贝尔奖得主Peter Mansfield爵士与状元团成员亲切交流
最后，状元团一行在诺丁汉大学主校区湖边艺术中心与诺丁汉依依惜别。相信，这短暂的一天半时间的交流活动在他们今后的人生中将会留下非常浓重而精彩的一笔。
Baidu and China’s Gaokao Champions Visiting the University of Nottingham and Nottingham Confucius Institute
3rd to 4th August, Baidu Wenku and Gaokao champions’ delegation which hosted by Confucius Institute and Asian Business Centre at the University of Nottingham visited Nottingham, cordially received by the Lord Mayer Councillor Jackie Morris, and signed a strategic cooperation agreement with the University of Nottingham, entered into a collaboration in talent exchanges, project funding , technical support and other aspects.
There were 10 champions from Beijing, Tianjin, Shaanxi , Shandong, Jilin , Hunan, Xinjiang Autonomous Region, including three of year 2014. As the first Gaokao champions delegation visiting to England, they got a theme of the visit which is “Science as Human’s Belief”. The Champions’ delegation visited the MRI Centre and meet with Noble Prize Laureate Sir Peter Mansfield accompanied by Lady Mansfield. Also, they visited Sir Clive Granger Building which is also named by another Noble Prize Laureate Sir Clive Granger and Physics Research Center , the Transformation Exhibition Center. CCTV reporters in Britain tracked the whole trip and interviewed Pro-Vice-Chancellor of the University of Nottingham Professor Yu Hai-Sui and Acting Director of Nottingham Confucius Institute Dr. Chen Jian.
In the afternoon of 3rd August, Lord Mayor of Nottingham Councillor Jackie Morris met with the champions at Nottingham Council House and warmly welcomed the delegation to the city of Nottingham. As the hometown of Robin Hood, the champions were led to the Nottingham Castle by a real ‘Robin Hood’ and had an experience of the culture of the city.
August 4 morning, Baidu champion’s delegation visited the Siyuan Centre, the University of Nottingham. Pro-Vice-Chancellor Professor Chris Rudd and Prof. Yu Haisui, Director of Asian Business Center Mr. Jason Feehily and senior executive Ms. Min Rose, deputy director of Scholl of Contemporary Chinese Studies Associate Professor Sarah Dauncey, Acting director and deputy director of Nottingham Confucius Institute Dr. Chen Jian and Dr.Jinrong Meng attended the meeting. Firstly, Dr. Sarah Dauncey, gave a welcoming address on behalf of SCCS. She spoke very fluent Chinese that made the champions deeply admired. Secondly, Dr.Chen Jian delivered a speech on behalf of NCI and introduced what NCI do now and then and in the future. Mr. Jason Feehily then introduced to the champions the University of Nottingham and Asian Business Centre and hoping that the signing of the agreement between Baidu and The University of Nottingham to be a great success. Later on, Mrs Li Xiaowan on behalf of Baidu Wenku introduced Baidu and Baidu Wenku and the intention of the champions visit to England. She hoped that the visit can help to expand their horizons and improve their knowledge. The aim is to exchange ideas between young people of the two countries, to understand learning styles and practice skills of British young people, to observe working methods of the scientific laboratory and to experience British culture and heritage.
At noon, Prof. Chris Rudd on behalf of the University of Nottingham and Mrs. Li Xiaowan on behalf of Baidu signed the Nottingham-Baidu Collaboration Agreement which outlines an agreed collaboration across talent exchange, project funding and technical support. It was witnessed by Baidu delegates, champions and Asian Business Centre , the Confucius Institute and the British student volunteers.
In the afternoon, the champions visited the MRI center and met the year 2003 Nobel Prize Laureate Sir Peter Mansfield and his wife. It was such a fantastic journey that the champions would not want to leave. Sir Peter Mansfield who is now more than 80 years old is still keen to his research and that was admired deeply by the champions. Subsequently, they visited the Sir Clive Granger Building which is also named by another Nobel Laureate. Professor Simon Gaechter and Professor Steve Leybourne kindly met the champions and cordially answered questions from the champions.
Later that day, the champions left the main campus of the University of Nottingham. We believe that this brief exchange in one and a half days will mark in their mind and will influence their future life and study in a very good way.
( Aiyu Wu)
