Forging powerful Chinese partnerships and celebrating alumni

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The University is helping lead a high-level delegation to China this week, forging partnerships and opportunities between Chinese provinces and Leeds City Region, Council, universities and businesses.

Joining the delegation is Pro-Vice-Chancellor: International, Professor Hai-Sui Yu, and Professor Frank Finlay, Executive Dean of the Faculty of Arts, Humanities and Cultures.

The aim is to boost the city of Leeds’ profile through an intensive week of meetings and presentations with China’s public and private sector leaders.

Alumni celebrations 

The University also hosted its largest international alumni reception, with more than 250 taking part in the celebrations in Shanghai. An alumni celebration also takes place in Hong Kong.

Alumni reception in Shanghai

The events will mark Leeds’ status as The Times and Sunday Times’ University of the Year 2017, awarded for the University’s approach to student education and outstanding student experience.

Forging partnerships

During the visit, Professor Yu is due to sign a formal memorandum of understanding with Zhejiang University, committing both organisations to closer working and collaboration on challenge-led research projects and global student experiences.

Discussions will also focus on how Leeds and universities in China can unlock potential and respond to calls from the UK’s Government £1.5bn Global Challenges Research Fund (GCRF) and the £735m Newton Fund.

High-level collaborative meetings will also be held with representatives from Fudan University, Shanghai International Studies University (SISU), Nanjing University, and Shanghai Jiao Tong University, with which Leeds signed a memorandum of understanding last month.

Leeds is a truly global city and we offer access to some of the best and brightest minds in the world.

Professor Hai-Sui Yu, Pro-Vice-Chancellor: International

Professor Yu said: “We will be promoting the University’ ambitious plans to increase our global reach and impact, encouraging colleagues in China to collaborate in joint research and student education and teaching opportunities. Leeds is a truly global city and we offer access to some of the best and brightest minds in the world.

“The University has been consistently ranked among the top 100 research universities in the world and our £520m investment in our campus will make our cutting-edge technology and facilities a major attraction to talented international researchers and students.

“Combining that with our drive to recruit more world-leading professors and 250 of the brightest new university research fellows, we are determined to support Leeds as being an innovative, strong and successful investment alternative to London.”

Cultural highlights

The wider delegation will also highlight Leeds’ bid to become the European Capital of Culture 2023, drumming up support for the bid which could bring significant visitor numbers and investment to the City.

Recent projects likely to be showcased include the University’s Anglo-Chinese theatrical programme, celebrating a 400 year legacy of William Shakespeare and Tang Xianzu.

Driving growth 

Members of the delegation will also meet with private sector firms including technology company Alibaba, Huawei and Dahua in Shanghai and Hangzhou.

Our world class institutions such as the University of Leeds and our strong business base offer an unrivalled access to innovation.

Roger Marsh OBE, Chair of the LEP

Roger Marsh OBE, Chair of the Leeds City Region Local Enterprise Partnership, said: “The time is right for the City Region to be furthering its relations with China.

"Our world class institutions such as the University of Leeds and our strong business base offer an unrivalled access to innovation, particularly in the sectors of healthcare, life sciences, big data and technology; areas which are of interest to the fast growing Chinese market but also driving growth in both our regional and national economy.”

Further information

In 2015, the University of Leeds and China's Southwest Jiaotong University (SWJTU) launched a joint school to deliver world-class teaching and research.

For more information, contact the University of Leeds press office on pressoffice@leeds.ac.uk or call 0113 343 4031.