From Nov. 5th to 6th, the Annual General Meeting 2020 of Jiangsu-UK World-Class University Consortium & The 2nd International University-Industry-Research Collaboration Forum was held in Changzhou Science and Education Town. The meeting was hosted by Jiangsu University (JSU)，organized by Jiangsu Provincial Department of Education, China and British Council, UK, , and co-hosted by Southeast University, University of Liverpool and Changzhou Science and Education Town.
More than 270 guests from 48 member universities in Jiangsu Province and the UK attended the meeting, exchanged and shared experiences on the themes of Post COVID-19 Transnational Research and Education, Post-Pandemic Challenges and Opportunities in Advanced Manufacturing and Environmental Engineering and Smart Medical Equipment. In addition, the meeting held the Agreements Signing Ceremony, the Conferring Ceremony of Appointment Certificates for Consortium Committees, and the Unveiling Ceremony of International Technology Transfer Center of Jiangsu-UK World-Class University Consortium. The meeting opened up a new phase of the high-level cooperation between Jiangsu universities and British universities to speed up and further opening education in the new era.
On Nov. 5th, Mr. Wang Chengbin, Deputy Director-General of Jiangsu Provincial Department of Education (JPDE), Ms. Gill Caldicott, Director East China of British Council, Culture and Education Consul of British Consulate General Shanghai, Mr. He Xingchu, Director of International Office, JPDE, Mr. David Wang, Head of Partnerships Education of British Council, leaders, experts and scholars from 32 universities in Jiangsu province, including Nanjing University, Southeast University, Nanjing University of Aeronautics and Astronautics, Jiangsu University, and 16 universities from the UK, including University of Oxford, University of Cambridge, and University of Liverpool, attended the meeting. Prof. Wiebe van der Hoek, Executive Pro-Vice-Chancellor, University of Liverpool, Prof. Alan Marshall, UK Chair of Consortium, Head of Department, Electrical Engineering and Electronics, University of Liverpool, Prof. Saul Tendler, Deputy Vice Chancellor and Provost, University of York, Prof. Paul Inman, Pro-Vice-Chancellor, University of Reading, Prof. Chris Johnson, Pro Vice Chancellor, Queens University Belfast, Prof. Sarah J. Davies, Pro Vice Chancellor, University of Leicester, Prof. Simon Pollard, Pro-Vice- Chancellor, Cranfield University, Dr David Pilsbury, Deputy Vice Chancellor, Coventry University, Prof. Judith Petts, Vice-Chancellor, Prof. Dafydd Moore, Deputy Vice- Chancellor International, University of Plymouth, Prof. Susan Lea, Vice-Chancellor, University of Hull, Prof. Liu Pan, Vice Chair of University Committee, Southeast University, Prof. Jiang Bin, Vice President, Nanjing University of Aeronautics and Astronautics, Pro. Tian Lixin, Vice President, Nanjing Normal University, Prof. Jiang Zhihong, Vice President, Nanjing University of Information Science and Technology, Prof. Niu Shengjie, Vice President, Nanjing Tech University, Prof. Xu Shoukun, Vice President, Changzhou University, Prof. Yuan Shouqi, Chair of Jiangsu University Council, Prof. Yan Xiaohong, President, JSU, Prof. Quan Li, Vice President, JSU attended all aspects of the meeting. Leaders and representatives from more than 20 Hi-tech parks and companies also attended the meeting. Prof. Quan Li, Vice President of JSU, presided over the meeting.
In the opening ceremony, Prof. Yan Xiaohong, President of JSU delivered the welcome remarks. The congratulatory letter from the Department of Foreign Expert Service, Ministry of Science and Technology were displayed. Ms. Gill Caldicott and Mr. Wang Chengbin delivered speeches. Senior Management of 10 British universities, including University of Liverpool, Cranfield University and University of York, congratulated the opening of the meeting via videos.
Witnessed by all the guests, the meeting conferred appointment certificates for Consortium Committee members. At the meeting, Southeast University and University of Liverpool, Jiangsu University and University of Liverpool, Nanjing University of Information Science and Technology and University of Reading, signed agreements to deepen cooperation in scientific research, faculty, exchanges and talent cultivation.
Mr. Wang Chengbin and Mr. Han Jiuyun, Member of the Standing Committee of the Changzhou Municipal Party Committee, Chair of the Party Working Committee of Changzhou Science and Education Town, unveiled the International Technology Transfer Center of Jiangsu-UK World-Class University Consortium to improve University-Industry-Research cooperation.
During the meeting, the Presidents Panel, Academic Panels and International University-Industry-Research Collaboration Forum were held. The participants discussed the challenges and opportunities that were brought to transnational scientific research and education, the advanced manufacturing, environmental engineering and smart medical equipment in the post COVID-19 era. Moreover, they exchanged views on cooperation among industries, universities and research institutes in related fields. Participants also visited Changzhou Science and Education Town and key enterprises. They highly recommend the role of industry-university-research cooperation as a cornerstone for the Consortium, and hoped that the consortium could be given full rein to achieve a win-win outcome through university-enterprise cooperation.
The Closed Meeting notified the list of Steering Committees and Council members of the Consortium, discussed the Action Plan for Jiangsu-UK Consortium Construction of Quality Science and Education Resources 2021-2023 and work plan in 2021, which pointed out blueprint for the Consortium.
At the Closing Ceremony, Prof. Alan Marshall, University of Liverpool, UK Chair of JS-UK Consortium summarized the fruitful achievements of the meeting.
