06/29/2018 12:00:00 AMUNT joined forces with Digital Train Limited to launch its NetDragon Digital Research Centre in May. Campus NewsGlobal ConnectionInnovationstory UNT joined forces with Digital Train Limited, a leader in internet and mobile internet educational content and delivery, to launch its NetDragon Digital Research Centre in May. Digital Train Limited, one of many companies owned by NetDragon founder Dejian Liu, provided $500,000 as startup funding to launch the centre and provide seed money for initiatives. The centre is designed to provide unique opportunities for student internships and faculty training, technology development, sponsored research across multiple disciplines, and deployment of online courses to further enrich student-learning experiences. "As a Tier One research university, we are constantly looking for ways to grow and improve our research," President Neal Smatresk says. "Through the NetDragon Digital Research Centre, our faculty and students will develop next-generation technologies to improve our students' success. They also will receive support to conduct research related to other emerging and evolving technologies, industries and innovations." The centre will be led by Thomas D. Parsons, a professor of learning technologies and founding director of UNT's Computational Neuropsychology and Simulations Lab. "I am excited by the possibilities that the NetDragon Digital Research Centre avails and look forward to working with faculty and student researchers at UNT, as well as with industry partners who have ideas for groundbreaking technologies," says Parsons, whose appointment as director began May 10. In addition, the College of Music is ironing out details for a possible digital music partnership with NetDragon, in which students provide music for its gaming products. "We're looking for a long-standing relationship where students will not only generate content but also be involved in internships," says Jon Nelson, associate dean of operations for the College of Music.