On August 15, the Sino-North Africa Education Innovation Association, accompanied by a delegation of 28 representatives from North African universities, visited our university. President Xu Jiangrong extended a warm welcome to the delegation and participated in a discussion meeting. Vice President Wang Binrui, Le Wei, Secretary-General of the "Belt and Road" Standardization Education and Research University Alliance, Bai Gongxun, Deputy Dean of the International College, and Wang Jianqi, Director of the International Office, also attended the meeting.
President Xu Jiangrong warmly welcomed the delegation and expressed gratitude to the Sino-North Africa Education Innovation Association for facilitating this face-to-face exchange with North African universities. In his address, President Xu emphasized that innovation is the primary driver of development and a strategic pillar for building a modern economic system. He underscored that universities are central to innovation and must play a leading role in technological advancement. He noted that this visit would enhance our university's visibility in North Africa, improve understanding between our institution and North African universities, foster friendly partnerships, and explore collaborative opportunities in teaching, research, academic exchanges, student exchanges, and joint training of international students.
President Xu Jiangrong expressed his hope that the "Belt and Road" Standardization Education and Research University Alliance, led by our university, will strengthen its connection with the Sino-North Africa Education Innovation Association. He also extended a warm invitation to universities in Morocco and Tunisia to join the alliance. President Xu emphasized the need to innovate in talent development mechanisms, enhance cooperation and exchange in the field of standardization, and collaboratively build a Belt and Road educational cooperation community.
In her address, Secretary-General Chen Lu of the Sino-North Africa Education Innovation Association noted that the association was established through a joint initiative by experts from higher education departments in China and North African countries, leaders from educational and cultural institutions, and representatives from several Chinese enterprises in North Africa. The association aims to promote the internationalization of higher education between China and North African countries, enhance the level of internationalization at universities, and seize new opportunities for international educational cooperation and exchange in the new era. It also seeks to build a regional international education collaboration platform and contribute to the construction of the China-Africa community with a shared future. As of now, the alliance has nearly 50 members, including government agencies, universities, and Chinese enterprises. Chen Lu expressed her willingness to facilitate high-quality and practical cooperation between our university and North African universities, explore innovative models for international talent development, and jointly promote Sino-foreign cooperative education, academic exchanges, and scientific collaboration. She also extended a sincere invitation for our faculty and students to visit North African universities for mutual exchange and cooperative development.
Vice President Wang Binrui provided an overview of the university’s history, distinctive features, strengths, and its international exchange and cooperation efforts. Secretary-General Le Wei discussed the progress and development of the university alliance.
The main guests for the visit included Nadia Lahmiri, Director of International Cooperation at the Moroccan Ministry of Education; Mohamed Kanidiri, former Moroccan Minister of Education and President of Marrakech Private University; Mohamed Barkawi, President of the Moroccan University Presidents’ Association and President of Mondiapolis University; Fatima Zahra Alami and Mustafa Khid, Vice Presidents of Hassan II University of Casablanca; Mohamed Sahabi, Vice President of Shweibdukler University; Abdellatif Mazouz and Kays Mabrouk, Vice Presidents of the Sino-North Africa Education Innovation Association; Imed Madi, Dean of the School of Engineering at the Central University of Tunisia Technical Institute; Sana El Ferrali, Director of the Innovation and Technology Transfer Center at Hassan II University of Casablanca; and Abdelmont Talib, Dean of the Casablanca Regional Institute of Education and Training, among nearly 20 leaders from universities in Morocco and Tunisia. During the meeting, the guests introduced their respective institutions and expressed a strong desire for collaborative teaching and research with our university.
After the meeting, the guests communicated with Moroccan student representatives at the university, inquiring about their academic and living conditions. They also toured the campus and visited the Yifu Metrology Museum at CJLU.
Through this visit, the North African university delegation deepened their understanding of our institution, built friendships, and opened new opportunities for collaboration, contributing to the high-quality international development of our university.
