From Nov. 12 to 19, Vice President of Jiangsu University (JSU) Prof. Li Hong led a delegation to visit partner universities in the UK and Italy, attend the Annual General Meeting of the UK-Jiangsu World Class University Consortium and meet with JSU students in Italy.
During the stay at Loughborough University, UK, the two parties engaged in in-depth discussions regarding SEP 2+2 programs and the talent cultivation projects under the China Scholarship Council. They also reached a consensus on carrying out research collaborations in disciplines such as electrical engineering, materials science, and automotive engineering. Furthermore, the delegation conducted a site visit to the London campus of Loughborough University to evaluate its teaching environment and research facilities, laying the groundwork for future cooperation expansion.
During the visit to the University of Portsmouth (UoP), Provost of UoP Prof. Sherria Hoskins, Deputy Vice Chancellor of UoP Mr Chris Chang, and representatives from the Faculty of Technology extended a warm welcome to the delegation from JSU for their reciprocal visit. Both sides introduced their respective historical developments and future goals, and unanimously agreed to pursue international cooperation in various forms, including talent cultivation, faculty training, and academic exchanges. A signing ceremony for the Memorandum of Understanding was also held. Following the meeting, the delegation toured the engineering facilities of UoP, including the Robotics Laboratory and the Power and Renewable Energy Laboratory.
During their stay in the UK, the delegation attended the 2025 Annual General Meeting of the UK-Jiangsu World Class University Consortium (AGM). The AGM was hosted by the Jiangsu Provincial Department of Education and the British Council, organized by the University of Liverpool, and co-organized by Jiangsu University. At the Presidents' Panel, Prof. Li Hong delivered a report titled "Global Perspective, Local Impact: Approaches to Enhancing Student Employability at JSU" introducing the university's practices and experiences in improving student employability, which received positive responses from the attending representatives. The Consortium's work plan for 2026 was also adopted during the AGM.
During their stay in Italy, the delegation held a bilateral meeting with the School of Industrial Engineering of the University of Padua. They also visited postgraduate students from Research Center of Fluid Machinery Engineering and Technology and School of Electrical and Information Engineering of JSU who are currently on exchange at the University of Padua, inquiring about their studies and daily life. The delegation encouraged them to study hard, enhance their research capabilities, and return to China upon the successful completion of their programs.
Additionally, the delegation visited the headquarters of the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), where they met with experts including Dr. Josef Kienzle, a specialist in sustainable agricultural mechanization from the Plant Production and Protection Division, and Dr. Jiang Shangchuan, a representative from the Secretariat of the "One Country One Priority Product" (OCOP) project. Discussions were held on potential collaboration between relevant schools of the university’s agricultural engineering disciplines and FAO’s agricultural mechanization initiatives as well as the OCOP project. Both sides reached preliminary cooperation intentions.
This visit has further strengthened mutual trust between JSU and its partner universities as well as international organizations, enhanced the university’s global influence, and laid the foundation for advancing the opening-up and cooperation objectives outlined in the university’s 15th Five-Year Plan for development.
(Source: International Office)
