On October 28, Professor Robin Banerjee, Pro-Vice-Chancellor of the University of Sussex, UK, led a delegation to visit the International College(IC) Xiamen University(XMU). The two sides held discussions on deepening Sino-foreign cooperative education, advancing the development of new programs, and enhancing the quality and effectiveness of existing programs.

The delegation first visited the Zhangzhou Campus, where they held a seminar with students from IC. They listened carefully to students' feedback on curriculum design, learning experience, and progression planning, and gained firsthand understanding of talent cultivation and operational delivery under the cooperation program. Located in Brighton, a renowned seaside resort town often referred to as "London's back garden," the University of Sussex isjust sits just 50 minutes from London by train. It is also the only university in the UK situated within a national park. The university ranks 273rd globally in the latest QS World University Rankings, with its Development Studies program ranked first in the world for ten consecutive years, earning widespread international recognition for its academic strength. Its Business School is among the UK's leading research-intensive business schools, known for interdisciplinary collaboration, innovative education, and a global perspective, and has ranked first in the UK for research income for four consecutive years.

Subsequently, the University of Sussex delegation proceeded to the Siming Campus for a themed meeting. Zhong Wei, Director of the Office of International Cooperation and Exchange at Xiamen University, and Huang Chen, Deputy Director, received the delegation. The meeting focused on the development of new majors and programs and the further advancement of existing cooperative programs. The two sides held in-depth discussions on topics including academic discipline and program alignment, innovation in talent cultivation models, quality assurance in teaching, and the sharing of academic and faculty resources.

During the meeting, Yu Hongbo, Dean of the International College, welcomed the delegation from the University of Sussex and gave a brief introduction to IC's development. The two sides reviewed the initial achievements of their cooperative education efforts and agreed that they should fully leverage their respective disciplinary strengths and educational resources to extend cooperation into broader fields and to a higher level. The University of Sussex explicitly stated that it will further strengthen academic and faculty support for IC and deepen cooperation in areas including joint curriculum development, faculty exchange, joint research, student exchange, and alumni services.

This visit strengthened the bonds of interaction and cooperation between the two sides and clarified the implementation roadmap and key priorities for cooperation in the next stage. IC will take this opportunity to remain committed to open education, steadily advance practical cooperation with high-calibre overseas institutions, and enhance the quality of international talent cultivation.