On December 15, a delegation led by Professor Bob Cryan, Vice-Chancellor of the University of Huddersfield and Fellow of the Royal Academy of Engineering, visited our university. Jiang Chuanhai, Secretary of the University Party Committee, and Yan Haifeng, Vice President, met with the guests. The two sides had an in-depth exchange of views on empowering the development of the Confucius Institute platform, expanding cooperation in business disciplines, and advancing sustainable development.
Jiang Chuanhai extended a warm welcome to Vice-Chancellor Cryan on behalf of the university. He pointed out that the two universities have a profound foundation and a long history of cooperation, and will take this return visit as an opportunity to expand joint scientific research, talent co-cultivation and industry-education integration, and work together to build a new benchmark for high-level China-UK cooperation. Yan Haifeng stated that the 12th Party Congress of East China University of Science and Technology (ECUST) has identified internationalization as a core development strategy. ECUST is willing to take management disciplines as a breakthrough point, deeply connect university-enterprise resources and international projects with the University of Huddersfield, and jointly write a new chapter of high-quality development.
Vice-Chancellor Cryan mentioned that this was his fourth visit to ECUST, and he could feel the vibrant and rapidly changing development of the university each time. He spoke highly of the remarkable achievements made by the Business School of East China University of Science and Technology in international education and international accreditation, noting that internationalization is also one of the three core educational philosophies of the University of Huddersfield. He expressed his hope that the two sides will continue to take the Confucius Institute for Science and Innovation as a bridge and the bilateral symposium on Low-Carbon Technology and Green Development as a platform to explore new growth areas for cooperation, including the JMD International Joint Multi-Degree Program and joint business education programs.
During the subsequent working meeting, the two sides held fruitful discussions on such topics as MBA program cooperation, action learning models, and the operation of the JMD program, and reached a number of cooperation consensuses.
During the visit, Vice-Chancellor Cryan and his delegation also held a special discussion with JMD program students from the School of International Education of our university. Andrew Mandebura, Director of International Affairs at the University of Huddersfield, gave a systematic introduction to the university’s disciplinary strengths, research capabilities, and specific pathways for students to pursue further studies in the UK. He also provided on-site answers to students’ questions concerning curriculum articulation, scholarship application, internship and employment, among others. The session witnessed active interaction and a warm atmosphere.
Fan Tijun, Dean of the Business School; Zhan Wangcheng, Deputy Director (officiating) of the Office of International Cooperation and Exchanges; Tang Jimin, Deputy Director of the Office; Peng Zeyu, Director of the International Exchange Office of the Business School; Shi Xiaoman, Program Director of the School of International Education, and other officials attended the above activities.
