From June 2 to 9, 2024, Xu Jiangrong, Vice Chancellor of China Jiliang University (CJLU), led a delegation to visit Brunel University London in the UK, Anglia Ruskin University (ARU) in the UK, and Université Hassan II de Casablanca (UH2C) in Morocco. The delegation discussed matters including the renewal of Sino-foreign cooperative education programs, faculty exchange visits, research cooperation, student exchanges and joint training, explored new opportunities for international research collaboration for faculty members and students’ overseas study, signed inter-university cooperation agreements, and organized an overseas talent recruitment fair, an alumni meeting and a symposium with representative parents of international students. Delegation members included Li Zhanguo, Director of the Development Planning Office; Wang Qiang, Executive Vice Dean of the Scientific Research Institute; Wang Jianqi, Director of the International Exchange and Cooperation Office; Shao Wenjun, Secretary of the General Party Branch of the Logistics Service Center; and Yu Xiao, Vice Dean of the College of Economics and Management.

On the afternoon of June 2, the delegation held an overseas talent recruitment fair at their hotel. They gave a detailed introduction to CJLU’s history, discipline development and research strengths, as well as national and Zhejiang provincial talent introduction policies, and conducted in-depth exchanges with Wang Lijuan, Lecturer at the University of Kent; Zhao Yuanhong, Postdoctoral Researcher at Oxford Brookes University; Dr. Qian Linglong from King’s College London; and Dr. Zhang Mengyuan from Brunel University London. The participating overseas talents expressed their willingness to keep a close eye on CJLU’s development and conduct in-depth exchange visits at an appropriate time.

On the morning of June 3, the delegation met with alumni including Li Haotong and Jiang Zhouzhe, graduates of CJLU’s College of Art and Communication. They learned in detail about the alumni’s study and work in London, listened to their insights and reflections on undergraduate studies, solicited their opinions and suggestions for the university’s development, and expressed earnest expectations for them. Vice Chancellor Xu encouraged the alumni to uphold the university motto “Developing National Economy by Metrology; Improving People’s Livelihood through Measurement”, serve the motherland in various ways after completing their studies, and support the development of their alma mater.

On the afternoon of June 3, the delegation visited the Research Centre for Quality Engineering and Intelligent Technology at Brunel University London. Founded in 1966, Brunel University London is a prestigious public research and teaching university in the UK with an international reputation. It has a total student population of over 13,000, including more than 2,800 international students. The university ranks 343rd in the 2024 QS World University Rankings, and its disciplines including design, engineering and law have been among the top 10 in UK university subject rankings for many years. The university has maintained years of cooperation and exchanges with CJLU’s College of Energy and Safety Engineering, College of Quality and Standardization, and other schools. Qingping Yang, Director of the Research Centre for Quality Engineering and Intelligent Technology, introduced the centre’s ongoing key research projects and led the delegation on a tour of its laboratories.

On the morning of June 4, the delegation continued their visit to Brunel University London and held official talks. Hua Zhao, Pro-Vice-Chancellor of Brunel University London, warmly received the delegation. Attendees of the discussion included Abdulnaser Sayma, Dean of the College of Engineering, Design and Physical Sciences; Thanos Megaritis, Head of the Department of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering; R. Nilavalan, Head of the Department of Electronic and Electrical Engineering; Monica Yang, Head of International Cooperation; Qingping Yang, Director of the Research Centre for Quality Engineering and Intelligent Technology; and Kirsty Smith, Deputy Director of Global Affairs. The two sides introduced the respective situations of their universities and held in-depth exchanges on education and teaching, research cooperation, and faculty and student exchange visits. Building on years of prior cooperation, Vice Chancellor Xu expressed the hope of focusing on advancing research cooperation and exploring Sino-foreign cooperative education programs at master’s and doctoral levels in the future. The two sides reached consensus on expectations and goals for further cooperation and signed a memorandum of understanding on inter-university cooperation.

On the afternoon of June 4, the delegation visited the Chelmsford campus of Anglia Ruskin University (ARU). Founded in Cambridge, UK in 1858, ARU is a renowned public comprehensive university in the UK, named University of the Year at the 2023 Times Higher Education (THE) Awards. It has a student population of approximately 23,000, including over 9,000 international students. The undergraduate program in Financial Engineering jointly run by ARU and CJLU started recruitment in 2015 and has produced six cohorts of graduates to date. Stephen Mugliston, Deputy Dean of the School of Engineering and the Built Environment, Faculty of Science and Engineering at ARU, briefed the delegation on the school’s teaching arrangements and professional internship programs. The two sides held extensive discussions and exchanges on joint student training and research project cooperation. Martin McCarthy, TNE Development Manager of the International Office, and Jin Jing, Senior Manager of International Cooperation of the International Office at ARU, accompanied the delegation on a tour of the campus laboratories and teaching centre.

On June 5, the delegation visited ARU’s Cambridge campus, met with the leadership of the Faculty of Business and Law, and discussed the renewal of the undergraduate cooperative education program in Financial Engineering. Mohammad Ali, Pro-Vice-Chancellor, Anglia Ruskin University and Executive Dean of the Faculty of Business and Law, held discussions with the delegation, together with Swetketu Patnaik, Dean of the School of Economics, Finance and Law; Simon Wood, Head of the International Office; Jin Jing, Senior Manager of International Cooperation of the International Office; Simon Evans, Director of the International Partnerships Centre, Faculty of Business and Law; and Danielle Talbot from the Educational Partnerships Centre, Faculty of Business and Law. Pro-Vice-Chancellor Mohammad Ali extended a warm welcome to the delegation and introduced ARU’s development history and bilateral cooperation outcomes. Vice Chancellor Xu introduced CJLU’s basic profile and research strengths, reviewed the achievements of the two universities’ cooperative education program over the past decade, and expressed the hope of further advancing cooperation in more areas and encouraging more students to pursue further studies at ARU. Subsequently, the two sides explored further in-depth cooperation in summer student camps, faculty and student exchange visits, and master’s level Sino-foreign cooperative education programs. Both sides agreed to continue the undergraduate Sino-foreign cooperative education program in Financial Engineering, and reached a broad consensus on expanding higher-level cooperative education programs and promoting faculty and student exchange visits.

On the morning of June 7, the delegation visited Université Hassan II de Casablanca (UH2C) in Morocco. Founded in 1975, UH2C is one of the youngest public universities in Morocco and also the largest university in the country in terms of student enrollment, with a total student population of over 140,000. It is also one of the most important higher education institutions in Africa, with teaching facilities enjoying a high reputation at home and abroad. It boasts well-stocked libraries with advanced digital resources and well-equipped laboratories, providing students with a high-quality learning environment and abundant academic resources. Mustapha Lkhider, Vice President of UH2C, warmly received the CJLU delegation and held official talks. Attendees of the symposium included Fatima Zahra Alami, Vice President; Omar El Ghazi, Director of the International Cooperation Office; Alami Younsi Saad, Director of the Teacher Training Department; Omar Bouattane, Dean of the National Higher School of Technology; and Fadma Ait Mous, Foreign Director of the Confucius Institute at UH2C. The two sides discussed cooperation opportunities in student exchanges, faculty exchanges and research cooperation, and signed a memorandum of cooperation. In the afternoon, the delegation visited UH2C’s library and key laboratories.

Morocco is the largest source country of international students at CJLU, and the university attaches great importance to international student education. On the evening of June 7, the delegation held a symposium with representative parents of Moroccan international students studying at CJLU at their hotel. The delegation briefly introduced the university’s situation and their children’s academic performance to the parents. The parents expressed satisfaction with CJLU’s education quality, teaching, research, sports and living facilities and services, and thanked the university for attaching great importance to international student education and training. Meanwhile, the parents hoped that the university could provide more opportunities and support for students in professional internships and scholarships in the future. After the symposium, Vice Chancellor Xu presented university-branded souvenirs to the parents and took a group photo with them.

During the visit, the delegation held talks and exchanges with university leadership, heads of functional departments and relevant schools, and professor representatives from Anglia Ruskin University, Brunel University London and Université Hassan II de Casablanca. They toured campuses, laboratories, libraries and teaching service facilities, met with CJLU alumni in London and student parent representatives in Casablanca, and held an overseas talent recruitment fair in London, which received a warm response.The delegation signed two memoranda of cooperation during the visit, finalized details for the renewal of the Sino-foreign cooperative education program agreement with Anglia Ruskin University, and reached a broad consensus with Brunel University London on joint student training, faculty exchange visits and cooperative education. All scheduled tasks were successfully fulfilled and all intended goals were met, with friendship and mutual trust forged between the parties. This visit has played a positive role in promoting international exchanges and cooperation between CJLU and universities in the UK and Morocco, advancing the development of disciplines including instrument science and technology and optical engineering (the university’s traditional strengths), and cultivating high-level talents, further enhancing CJLU’s reputation.