A Delegation Led by the Vice-Chancellor of Northumbria University, UK, Visited Nanjing Normal University
On May 13, 2025, a delegation led by Professor John Woodward, Deputy Vice-Chancellor of Northumbria University, UK, visited Nanjing Normal University. Vice President Linwang Yuan met with the delegation at the university’s Xianlin Campus, accompanied by representatives from the Office of International Cooperation and Exchange and the School of Electrical and Automation Engineering. The two parties engaged in in-depth discussions on enhancing Sino-foreign collaborative education programs and expanding areas of collaboration in talent cultivation across multiple disciplines.
On behalf of the university, Vice President Linwang Yuan extended a warm welcome to the visiting delegation and introduced the university’s history, development of key disciplines, and internationalization strategy. He specifically highlighted the remarkable achievements of the jointly established “3+1” dual-degree program in Electrical Engineering and Automation between the two institutions. Since its inception, the program has cultivated nearly 1,000 interdisciplinary professionals with a global perspective. Graduates have demonstrated exceptional performance in pursuing further studies abroad and strong employment competitiveness, leading to steadily increasing public recognition. Notably, the program’s admission scores have shown a steady upward trajectory over the past three years, reaching a historic high in 2024 with scores surpassing the provincial benchmark by 140 points – a testament to its escalating academic prestige and student quality.
Professor John Woodward expressed his gratitude for the warm reception and commended the two-decade-long fruitful collaboration between the two institutions. He noted that Nanjing Normal University students have consistently excelled during their studies at Northumbria University, with all program graduates attaining First-Class Honours degrees – a testament to their solid academic foundation and outstanding capabilities. To further strengthen the partnership, Northumbria University will enhance the cooperation framework by implementing innovative measures such as pre-departure academic guidance and dedicated pathways for further studies. These initiatives aim to establish an integrated training system for program participants, driving continuous improvement in the quality and effectiveness of the joint educational program.
During the meeting, both parties held in-depth discussions on key aspects of the “3+1” dual-degree program, including curriculum optimization and the establishment of quality assurance mechanisms. Both parties also expressed their intention to further expand joint training of high-level talent and strengthen international research collaboration in disciplines such as geography. They agreed to fully leverage their respective academic strengths and jointly usher in a new chapter of comprehensive strategic cooperation in talent development and collaborative research and innovation.
During the visit, the delegation made a special trip to the School of Electrical and Automation Engineering to host a faculty-student symposium, engaging in face-to-face discussions with students enrolled in the joint academic program.