From March 9 to 13, 2025, Dean Li Shan of CDUT’s College of International Education (Oxford Brookes College) led a delegation to Penang, Malaysia, aiming to strengthen CDUT’s global presence and deepen educational collaboration with Malaysian institutions. During their five-day mission, the delegation conducted targeted overseas student recruitment activities and strategic discussions on joint international education projects. Facilitated by the established sister-city relationship between Chengdu and Penang, and through key introductions by Penang Legislator Connie Tan Hooi Peng and Tan Hwang Ee, President of the Association of Graduates from Universities and Colleges of China (Penang), the delegation engaged extensively with five century-old Chinese schools and educational organizations in Penang. Additionally, the delegation held a formal meeting with Dato’Seri Lee Thiam Loy, Chairman of the PG & PW United Chinese School Management Association. The visit drew considerable media attention, receiving prominent coverage from leading local news outlets including Guang Ming Daily and Sin Chew Daily.
Accompanied by Connie Tan Hooi Peng and Tan Hwang Ee, Li Shan and the delegation visited five distinguished institutions in Penang: Chung Ling Private High School, Jit Sin Independent High School, Han Chiang University College of Communication, Penang Chinese Girls’ Private High School, and Chung Hwa Confucian High School. Li Shan held productive discussions with senior school administrators, exploring opportunities in international educational cooperation, student and faculty exchanges, collaborative talent cultivation, and reciprocal visits. Additionally, the delegation hosted multiple recruitment seminars tailored to both general undergraduate programs and Sino-foreign cooperative education initiatives, attracting over 500 student attendees. Presentations highlighted CDUT’s academic strengths, comprehensive faculty resources, application processes, and its Chengdu Government Scholarship for International Students from Sister Cities. Engaged in thorough discussions with the delegation on subject selection, academic pathways, employment outlook, and costs associated with overseas study, students displayed a particular enthusiasm for CDUT’s Oxford Brookes College. Many expressed keen interest in progressing from their current IGCSE and A-Level qualifications to pursue further education at CDUT’s Oxford Brookes College.
The delegation further held discussions with Dato’Seri Lee Thiam Loy, Chairman of the PG & PW United Chinese School Management Association. Li Shan introduced CDUT’s comprehensive strengths, academic programs, talent development goals, and the Chengdu Government Scholarship for International Students from Sister Cities. She outlined CDUT’s strategic vision for international educational collaboration, expressing keen interest in partnering with Penang’s Chinese schools for student recruitment efforts and exploring joint initiatives such as international summer programs and short-term educational exchanges. Dato’Seri Lee assured strong support, pledging to facilitate CDUT’s enhanced presence and influence across Penang.
Moreover, the delegation visited the Penang Philomathic Union Sun Yat-sen Centre, an iconic landmark in Malaysian Chinese education known for its profound historical and cultural heritage. This visit provided deeper insights into Malaysia’s educational history and cultural identity. Coinciding with the 100th anniversary of Dr. Sun Yat-sen’s passing, Li Shan attended a memorial ceremony at the invitation of local organizers, joining Zhou Youbin, the Chinese Consul General in Penang, and Penang Legislator Connie Tan Hooi Peng to commemorate the legacy of Dr. Sun. As an honored guest, Li laid flowers and delivered a commemorative speech.
This visit represents CDUT’s practical response to China’s national policy of enhancing the quality and impact of educational openness. It also serves as an innovative step towards fostering a reciprocal international educational community. By deepening educational collaboration between Penang and Chengdu, the initiative not only builds a new bridge connecting Malaysian students to China’s outstanding educational resources, but also yields tangible results in joint curriculum development, collaborative research projects, and cultural exchange programs. Guided by its core principles of openness and cooperation, CDUT’s College of International Education (Oxford Brookes College) remains dedicated to expanding global educational partnerships, cultivating high-quality talent equipped with an international outlook.
