On the morning of April 3, Mark Norrish, Pro Vice Chancellor of Anglia Ruskin University (ARU), visited China Jiliang University (CJLU) to discuss the establishment of the Joint Education Institute (JEI). Secretary of the University Party Committee Xu Jiangrong and Vice President Wang Binrui attended the reception. Representatives from the International Office, College of International Education, College of Mechanical Engineering, College of Metrology Measurement and Instrument, and College of Information Engineering also participated in the meeting.
Prior to the discussions, Secretary Xu met with Pro Vice Chancellor Norrish in Mingde Building to review the outcomes of CJLU's delegation visit to ARU in June 2023. The two sides held in-depth exchanges on the proposed JEI. Xu noted that since 2015, the two universities have jointly operated an undergraduate programme in Financial Engineering, enrolling 100 students annually. The programme has produced a number of high-calibre graduates with international vision and strong practical skills. He expressed hopes that the visit would further deepen collaboration and accelerate the establishment of the JEI.
During the meeting, Vice President Wang delivered a welcome speech, highlighting CJLU's disciplinary strengths and international engagement. He emphasised that the successful cooperation in the Financial Engineering programme has fostered mutual trust and understanding, laying a solid foundation for broader and deeper collaboration. He expressed hopes for further interdisciplinary and research cooperation, including the creation of joint laboratories and research institutes.
Pro Vice Chancellor Norrish thanked CJLU for the warm reception and spoke highly of the progress made in collaborative education. He noted that this was his first visit to CJLU and that the on-site exchange had provided valuable insight into CJLU's academic development, talent cultivation, and distinctive strengths. He expressed strong interest in expanding cooperation in emerging fields such as artificial intelligence, computer science, and robotics to promote mutual benefit and coordinated development.
Representatives from the three colleges engaged in detailed discussions with Pro Vice Chancellor Norrish on programme design, curriculum structure, and teaching arrangements for the proposed JEI. Both sides agreed to accelerate preparations, ensure seamless curriculum alignment, and explore key areas including teaching models, faculty development, and university–industry collaboration. They aim to complete the application and approval process at the earliest possible date.
After the meeting, Pro Vice Chancellor Norrish visited the Metrology Museum and laboratories related to automation, instrumentation, and artificial intelligence, gaining a deeper understanding of CJLU's research facilities, teaching resources, and academic strengths.
This visit further deepened mutual understanding and trust between the two universities, laying a solid foundation for advancing cooperation at a higher level. Both sides agreed that the establishment of the JEI will become a landmark achievement in China–UK higher education collaboration. It will not only provide high-quality international education resources and exchange platforms for faculty and students, but also contribute to the development of related disciplines, diversify talent cultivation pathways, enhance teaching quality, and raise international visibility. In the next stage, the two universities will prioritise the development of the curriculum system, formation of teaching teams, integration of teaching models, and implementation of industry–university collaborative training mechanisms, working together to ensure the successful launch of the JEI and to foster high-quality development on both sides.
