On the morning of November 8, the 20^th Anniversary Development Conference of  International College(IC), Xiamen University(XMU) was held at the Concert Hall of the Science and Art Center on the Siming Campus, Xiamen University.

The conference was attended by distinguished guests including Mr. Wang Haojie, former Party Secretary of XMU; Mr. Zhu Chongshi, former President of XMU; Mr Sun Li, Deputy Party Secretary of XMU; Mr. Xia Jianhui, Deputy Director of the China Service Center for Scholarly Exchange(CSCSE); Mr. Horikawa Tomohiro, President of Shizuoka Sangyo University（SSU), Japan; Mr Steven McGuire, Senior Vice-President of the University of East Anglia(UEA), UK; and Mr Simon Bradbury, Vice-Chancellor of De Montfort University, UK.

The gathering brought together over 300 participants, comprising representatives from partner institutions both domestic and abroad, colleagues who have long supported IC's development, friends from various sectors of society, heads of Xiamen University's administrative departments and sister schools, alumni representatives, current faculty and students, as well as media representatives. The conference was presided over by Zhou Lei, Party Secretary of IC，XMU. 

The conference commenced solemnly with the performance of the national anthem.

On behalf of XMU, Sun Li, Deputy Secretary of XMU delivered a speech in which he fully affirmed IC's development achievements over the past two decades. He noted that since its establishment, IC has consistently adhered to the educational philosophy of "Integrating Eastern and Western Strengths to Cultivate Global Talents," actively introduced high-quality international educational resources, and provided Chinese students with platforms for international education as well as perspectives that bridge Chinese and global contexts. Over the past twenty years, IC has supplied the nation and society with a large number of internationally competent, well-rounded professionals who possess solid expertise, profound literacy, and outstanding practical abilities, making active contributions to enhancing the international influence and serving the regional economic and social development.

He expressed three hopes for IC: First, to remain committed to the original aspiration of nurturing talents, deeply embedding the foundation of fostering virtue and cultivating individuals, integrating the spirit of Tan Kah Kee and the fine academic traditions of XMU into IC's ethos, and cultivating more outstanding talents with a sense of national pride and global competence; Second, to deepen collaboration with diverse partners, elevate the level of internationalized education, and build a new pattern of international education characterized by higher standards, broader fields, and deeper levels, creating a model highland for Sino-foreign educational cooperation and exchange; Third, to focus on high-quality development, closely align with major national strategies and social development needs, continuously optimize the disciplinary and professional layout, explore the empowerment of artificial intelligence, and develop new education and teaching models that align with the growth patterns of international talents.

Xia Jianhui ,Deputy Director of China Service Center for Scholarly Exchange (CSCSE) reviewed the nearly twenty-year cooperation between the CSCSE and IC, fully affirming IC's educational achievements. He pointed out that IC has consistently adhered to its founding aspiration of "serving national strategies and addressing societal needs," deeply integrating the spirit of Xiamen University's motto with international education concepts. IC has established a comprehensive quality assurance system and has sent over 8,000 outstanding students to overseas universities, becoming a model for the high-quality development of study abroad programs nationwide in terms of operational standardization and educational effectiveness.

He stated that the CSCSE will focus on the goal of "dual enhancement of student quality and program quality," undertaking a comprehensive restructuring of cooperative programs and management systems. Through initiatives such as implementing a teacher empowerment plan, promoting two-way exchanges between faculty and students, and establishing an expert committee, the center will further support the high-quality development of IC, which aims to cultivate more global talents and contribute to serving the overall development of the nation.

Mr. Horikawa Tomohiro, President of Shizuoka Sangyo University (Japan), and Mr Steven McGuire, Senior Vice-Chancellor and Deputy Vice-Chancellor of the University of East Anglia (UK), delivered addresses on behalf of IC's overseas partner institutions. While extending sincere congratulations and reviewing the achievements of their collaboration, they also shared their vision for further deepening mutual cooperation.

Yu Hongbo, Dean of IC, delivered a report reviewing IC's 20-year development and outlining its future vision. She provided a comprehensive retrospective of IC's journey, covering key development stages, study abroad programs, faculty development, talent cultivation, and alumni engagement. Standing at this new starting point, she articulated that IC will closely align with Xiamen University's goal of "advancing with the times to build a world-class university." With a broader perspective, more forward-thinking approaches, and more substantive work, IC will fully dedicate itself to building the "Xiamen University Study Abroad" brand and driving high-quality development. The strategic directions include: Firstly,establishing a new system for international cooperation at higher levels and across broader domains. Secondly, focusing on the fundamental task of fostering virtue and cultivating talents to comprehensively enhance the quality of internationally competent personnel. Thirdly, embracing the digital wave to create new models of smart education. Fourthly, strengthening internal governance to set benchmarks for study abroad education quality. Fifthly, uniting alumni forces to build a collaborative development community.

Mr. Yu Peizhong, President of the International College Alumni Association and member of the Class of 2006, delivered a speech as the alumni representative. He fondly recalled his academic journey at IC, expressing gratitude for the open and inclusive international education that laid a solid foundation for his career development. He stated that IC imparts to its students not only knowledge and global perspectives but also a sense of mission to innovate and serve society. He called on alumni worldwide to frequently return to their alma mater and actively contribute to IC's development by sharing experiences, providing internship and employment opportunities, and uniting alumni strength to support the IC's growth.

Ms. Lin Yingting from the English Teaching and Research Group spoke as the faculty representative. She fondly recalled her eighteen-year journey of growing alongside IC. Sharing insights from her dedication to educating students and witnessing their developmental achievements, she expressed her commitment to further deepen her educational philosophy, strengthen the emotional bonds between teachers and students, nurture more outstanding talents, and contribute to writing a new brilliant chapter for IC's development.

Cui Xinyi from the Class of 2023 delivered her speech as the student representative. She expressed gratitude for the high-quality educational environment and diverse growth platforms provided by IC, thanked the faculty for their attentive cultivation and the alumni for their exemplary guidance. She affirmed that she would uphold the university motto of "Self-improvement, Pursuit of Excellence," strive to grow into a new-generation talent with a global perspective, and dedicate her youth to contributing to national and social development.

At the conference, Ms Li Yicong, Director of China Examination Business Development of the British Council, and Ms. Tang Qianting, Head of Digital Sales and Operations for Asia at Pearson Group, represented IELTS and Pearson Education Group respectively in the partnership plaque presentation ceremony with the College. This milestone event signifies the commencement of comprehensive and in-depth collaboration between the parties in areas including language assessment, curriculum resources, and faculty development, jointly promoting innovation and enhancement of IC's international talent cultivation model.

In recognition of faculty and staff who have remained true to the educational mission and demonstrated selfless dedication over the past two decades, the conference specially established the "Long-Term Service Award." College leaders presented honorary certificates to twenty award recipients, which not only served as high recognition of their sustained hard work but also vividly embodied the values of honoring teachers, prioritizing education, and promoting a culture of gratitude.

The development of IC has relied on the care and support of its alumni worldwide, who have contributed to IC's growth through donations and the establishment of bursaries. During the donation ceremony, several devoted alumni—including Mr. Yu Peizhong (Class of 2006), Mr. Wu Chunlei (Class of 2007), and Mr. Lin Chengyu and Ms. Lin Jueya (both Class of 2011)—demonstrated their deep connection to their alma mater through generous contributions. These acts of giving not only reflect the profound affection of the alumni for IC but also represent a heartfelt continuation of the Spirit of Tan Kah Kee.

The Development Conference concluded successfully amidst the uplifting the university anthem.

During the preparatory phase of the conference, IC received congratulatory letters and video messages from over 40 domestic and international institutions and units. These included the University of Southampton, University of East Anglia, and Middlesex University from the UK; Macquarie University from Australia; the University of Canada West; Sichuan University; the International Education College of Shanghai University of Finance and Economics; as well as various schools and departments within Xiamen University such as the College of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, the School of Architecture and Civil Engineering, the College of Foreign Languages and Cultures, and the Institute of Education. Alumni worldwide and current faculty and students also extended their blessings to the College through various means, including videos.

On the same day, IC also hosted an International Education Forum. The event was attended by leaders from the China Service Center for Scholarly Exchange (CSCSE) of the Ministry of Education, officials from the Foreign Cooperation Division of the Fujian Provincial Education Department, representatives from partner institutions, and delegates from sister universities. Participants actively contributed ideas and suggestions for the high-quality development of international education within the context of building a strong educational nation.

Concurrently, IC held a series of 20^th anniversary activities, including an Alumni Salon, Alumni Forum, Cultural Gala, the unveiling of a college stone, and a visit to the Tan Kah Kee Innovation Laboratory. Faculty, students, and alumni gathered together to reminisce about the past, strengthen bonds of friendship, and discuss plans for future development.