In order to deepen the development of the college's international cooperation programs and further enhance its globalized educational standards, Yu Hongbo, Dean of International College(IC), Xiamen University(XMU), led a delegation on a visit to the United Kingdom and Ireland from September 17^th to 23^rd. During the visit, the delegation engaged in in-depth exchanges with 7 overseas institutions on topics including talent cultivation, academic research, and joint program development, reaching multiple collaborative agreements. The delegation also met with overseas alumni of IC, strengthening bonds and gathering alumni support to jointly promote the orderly development of the 20^th anniversary celebration activities of IC.

On September 17^th, the delegation led by Dean Yu commenced their visit with Middlesex University in the UK as the first stop. Dean Yu held in-depth discussions with Professor Janet Jones, Vice-Chancellor of the university, and Guirdip Binner, Head of the International Office, focusing on collaborative programs as well as the design and development of internationalized curricula. Following the meeting, Dean Yu and the delegation conducted a campus tour accompanied by their hosts, gaining detailed insights into the teaching facilities and campus environment.

On September 18^th, Dean Yu Hongbo and her delegation visited Nottingham Trent University (NTU) in the UK. Professor Richard Emes, Vice-Chancellor of the university, met with the delegation and spoke highly of the existing collaborative achievements between both sides. He hoped that this visit will be an opportunity to further expand the scope and elevate the level of cooperation. During the visit, Dean Yu also held specialized discussions with the heads and key faculty members of NTU's Business School and School of Art & Design. The talks focused on optimizing curriculum design, facilitating faculty and student exchanges, and innovating practical teaching methods. The delegation toured the university's laboratories, creative studios, and achievement exhibition areas. Both sides reached a consensus on future educational development , particularly in the field of "AI + Industry + Disciplines." They plan to promote the integration of industry and research in business courses, jointly develop interdisciplinary programs combining game design, film technology, visual effects, and AI, and establish joint teaching workshops.

On September 19^th, Dean Yu and her delegation arrived in Ireland, where they conducted visits to University College Dublin (UCD) and Trinity College Dublin (TCD). At the Smurfit School of Business,UCD, the delegation engaged in productive discussions with key academic leaders including:Professor Karan Sonpar, Associate Dean for International Affairs; Associate Dean for Graduate Programs, Associate Dean for Undergraduate Programs, and also the Head of Admissions. Both sides conducted efficient communication regarding the development of specialized collaborative programs. Building on the respective institutional strengths and educational needs, they preliminarily identified key areas for cooperation in financial data science, supply chain management, project management consulting.

At TCD, Dean Yu and her delegation held consultations with Professor Nathan Hill, Director of the Trinity Centre for Asian Studies, and Niamh Burke, Deputy Director of the International Office, focusing on academic research and program collaboration. Building on the respective institutional strengths and regional advantages of both universities, the two sides plan to initiate cooperation in fields such as transnational Southeast Asian business studies.

On the morning of September 22^nd, Dean Yu and her delegation visited the University of East Anglia (UEA), where they held talks with Professor Steve McGuire, Deputy Vice-Chancellor of the university. Both sides reviewed their collaborative history, acknowledged the achievements of their partnership, and engaged in in-depth discussions on future cooperation in talent cultivation and academic exchange. On behalf of IC, Dean Yu presented Deputy Vice-Chancellor Steve McGuire with an official invitation to the 20^th anniversary celebrations of IC, earnestly requesting his presence at the event. During the visit, Dean Yu also met separately with the heads of UEA's International Office, School of Economics, Faculty of Humanities, and Business School, which facilitated thorough exchanges on expanding collaborative fields, refining cooperation details, and improving collaborative mechanisms.

On the afternoon of September 22^nd, Dean and her delegation visited the University of Surrey, where they held in-depth discussions with Professor Li Gang, Associate Dean of the Business School; Professor Wang Wenwu, Associate Dean of the School of Computer Science and Electronic Engineering; and Raymond Qiu, Head of China Region. The discussions centered on deepening existing collaborative programs, identifying new areas for cooperation, and enhancing the overall quality of partnership, which provided a clear pathway for future collaboration between both sides.

On September 23^rd, Dean Yu and her delegation arrived at their final destination—the University of Southampton. At the Highfield Campus, they met with Professor Jane Faulkingham, Vice-President of the university, along with representatives from the Faculty of Arts and Humanities and the International Office, as well as the Chinese and foreign co-directors of the Xiamen University-University of Southampton Confucius Institute.

Both sides reviewed their long-standing and friendly collaborative history and reached broad consensus on further deepening future cooperation. Dean Yu presented Vice-President Jane Faulkingham with an invitation to the 20^th anniversary celebrations of IC. Professor Faulkingham expressed that as a long-term partner of the IC, the University of Southampton would take the anniversary as an opportunity to further strengthen cooperation in talent cultivation, academic research, and cultural exchange.

At the Winchester Campus, Dean Yu and her delegation also held discussions with Professor Bryony Whitmarsh, Deputy Dean of the Faculty of Arts and Humanities; Patrick Duggen, Head of the Winchester School of Art; Paul Machie, Head of the Fashion and Textile Department; and Delia Crowe, International Office Manager. Building upon existing collaborative programs, the meeting focused on addressing the challenges and opportunities that AI presents to art education, along with corresponding strategies. Both parties reached a consensus on enhancing program quality and elevating student development standards.

During the visit, the delegation utilized itinerary intervals to hold meetings with International College students studying in the United Kingdom across three locations: London, Norwich, and Winchester. Dean Yu inquired in detail about the students' academic adaptation, daily experiences, and challenges faced, while patiently addressing their questions regarding academic planning and career development. She also conveyed the alma mater's care and warm regards. Dean Yu encouraged the students to cherish their overseas study opportunities, courageously overcome language and cultural barriers, proactively broaden their global perspectives, and enhance their cross-cultural communication skills. She emphasized that while pursuing specialized studies, they should actively promote Chinese culture and demonstrate the distinguished qualities of Xiamen University students, ultimately contributing to national development and fostering friendly exchanges between China and other countries.

The visit to the United Kingdom and Ireland has not only strengthened the friendly cooperation between IC, XMU and multiple prestigious universities, but also pioneered new pathways for collaboration in cutting-edge fields such as artificial intelligence, digital finance, and cross-cultural studies. Moreover, it conveyed the warm regards of the alma mater, consolidated the strength of overseas alumni, injected new momentum into IC's internationalized education, and laid a solid foundation for the successful launch of the 20^th anniversary celebrations of IC.Taking this visit as an opportunity, IC will continue to deepen practical cooperation with international partners, striving to cultivate more outstanding global talents equipped with international perspectives and innovative spirit.