The 7th Annual General Meeting of the UK-China Joint Institute Alliance and the Transnational Education Conference took place from November 7 to 8, 2024, at the Weihai campus of Beijing Jiaotong University. On behalf of the College of International Education (Oxford Brookes College, OBC) of CDUT, Dean Li Shan and Executive Vice Dean Zhong Yingjia from the UK side attended the meeting.
The event was hosted by the UK-China Joint Institute Alliance and Beijing Jiaotong University, with the Lancaster University College of Beijing Jiaotong University serving as the organizer. Supported by British Council and the China Education Association for International Exchange, the event centered on the theme: “Optimising the Strengths of UK-China TNE: Driving Openness, Innovation, and Excellence in Education through Global Partnerships.”
On November 7, members of the Alliance gathered for a closed-door meeting to welcome new institutions and share insights on the progress and vision for future projects. The following day, a vibrant opening ceremony set the stage for dynamic discussions, featuring remarks by Gao Liang, Vice President of Beijing Jiaotong University; He Pei, Director of the Department of Cross-border Education Quality Assurance of the China Education Association for International Exchange and a representative from the Shandong Provincial Education Department; and Leina Shi, Director Education for the British Council, China.
Keynote addresses were delivered by Zhao Yanzhi, President of Shenyang University, and Simon Guy, Pro-Vice-Chancellor Global of Lancaster University. The conference also included interviews with both Chinese and international experts on two major themes: “Innovation and Sustainability for UK-China Transnational Education” and “Risk and Reward for UK-China TNE.” Additionally, the event featured a “Youth Scholars Sharing Session” as part of the “New Generation of UK-China Transnational Education” forum, along with six specialized sub-forums: “Governance and Operation of TNE Partnerships: Key Challenges,” “Equity, Diversity, Inclusiveness: A New Frontier,” “Research and Industry Engagement: Safe Spaces for Engagement,” “From Co-Creation to Co-Strategy: Deepening TNE Partnerships,” “Mobility, Progression and Placement: Future Proofing Student Outcomes,” and “Staff Development: Nurturing Academic Talent.”
During the conference, the OBC delegation, together with representatives and key officials from UK-China collaborative education institutions nationwide, engaged in in-depth discussions on a variety of important topics. These included the quality accreditation and sustainable development of Sino-foreign cooperative education, support for student academic growth, faculty development and the enhancement of academic capabilities, as well as research collaboration, industry partnerships, and administrative services. The conference not only strengthened OBC’s connections with other UK-China collaborative institutions but also provided valuable insights for the continued high-quality development of its international education initiatives.
