8 May 2008

Paying his own way has paid dividends for Victoria University student and Chinese national, Guandong Xu.

The Computer Science PhD scholar has been honoured with a prestigious award presented to outstanding self-financed students studying abroad.

Guandong received the award from the Chinese Consulate-General, Mr Liang Shugen, at a ceremony at the Chinese Consulate in Toorak, Melbourne. As well as receiving a certificate of honour, he received a cheque for US$5,000 (AU$5,500).

The award is sponsored by the China Scholarship Council and recognises the top Chinese students undertaking full-time research at a university outside China. Xu is one of 21 Australian students to receive the award this year. A total of 301 awards have been presented to students studying in over 30 countries.

Xu was nominated for the award by Professor Yanchun Zhang, Director of Innovative e-Research at VU. However, the awards are judged on merit after nominee's academic records have been thoroughly scrutinised by a special committee based in China.

Following the award ceremony Guandong said: "There is a lot of competition for these awards so I am very grateful to be among the recipients. Victoria University has been extremely supportive of my work and I am especially grateful to Professor Zhang for the mentoring role he has played so far in my research career."

Xu's research focuses on improving web content searching by using a specialised form of statistical analysis to understand patterns of web user behaviour. He started his PhD at Victoria University in 2004 and has authored or co-authored 15 quality research papers in international journals and international conference proceedings.

This award is Xu's second major achievement in the past 12 months. Last year he was awarded a $25,000 Endeavour Postdoctoral Research Fellowship by the Department of Education Science and Training. The Fellowship will enable Xu to engage in a six-month collaborative research project with Professor Masaru Kitsuregawa at the University of Tokyo, in Japan.

Xu is also the Chairman of the Victorian Association of Chinese PhD Students and Scholars, and a council member of the Federation of Chinese Scholars in Australia.


A photo Guandong Xu receiving his award from the Chinese Consulate-General, Mr Liang Shugen, is available on request.


Media Contact: Andy Gash, Snr. Media Officer,
Marketing & Communications Department, Victoria University
Ph: (03) 9919 4950; mobile 0411 255 900