An agreement was reached between ITP and China University of Geology (Beijing) (CUG) on March 29, 2010, regulating the sharing of such resources as scientific research forces, field monitoring stations, lab analysis equipment, research programs, sci-tech resources, and graduates sources between the institute and the university.

Professors DING Lin and FANG Xiaomin of ITP were thereupon employed by the CUG as part-time professors, and issued Certificate of Employment.

The agreement was reached and signed by ITP director Prof. YAO Tandong and CUG Principal Prof. WU Fuguo. Both heads acknowledged ITP as a solid research base, and the CUG (Beijing) as a well-equipped educational base. They both believed that the cooperation between ITP and CUG would be mutually benefitted, as it would not only be conducive to scientific achievement and talents cultivation, but also help contribute to potential breakthroughs in the study of tectonic structure, environmental changes, and natural resource survey on the Plateau.

Prof. Yao was afterwards invited to report on ‘Tibetan Plateau and Global Climate Change’ at CUG.