Ms. Solina Chau, Director of the Li Ka Shing Foundation, and founder of Horizons Ltd Hong Kong and H.S. CHAU Foundation, will officially open a symposium tomorrow celebrating the 10th anniversary of the Shantou University/University of Manitoba Academic Exchange Program.

The Li Ka Shing Foundation was founded by Mr. Li Ka-shing, a global businessman and philanthropist. Over the years, the Li Ka Shing Foundation has sought to cultivate positive and sustainable change in society by supporting projects that encourage progress in the areas of education, health care, culture, and community. Shantou University was established in 1981. Mr. Li Ka-shing contributed HK $3.1 billion to the founding of the university and has contributed a total of over HK $5.3 billion to the school.

Over the past decade, more than 100 students, faculty, residents and researchers from both universities have participated in the exchange program – experiencing one another’s cultures, medical practices, teaching and research methods.

The exchange program is supported by the Li Ka Shing Foundation, which contributed $1 million in 2003, and another $1 million from Husky Energy Inc. in 2007.

What: “Ten Years of Building Bridges in Medical Education and Research” Symposium with past and present student and faculty perspectives on the exchange

When: 2:00 p.m., Tuesday, September 20, 2011

Where: Frederic Gaspard Theatre, Basic Medical Sciences Building 727 McDermot Avenue, University of Manitoba Bannatyne Campus

For more information contact Ilana Simon, Director of Communications & Marketing, Faculty of Medicine, University of Manitoba, 204-789-3427 or 204- 295-6777 (simoni@cc.umanitoba.ca).