In a proactive response to the evolving landscape of student recruitment and to strengthen the connection between talent cultivation in secondary schools and higher education, a special research team led by Yu Hongbo, Dean of the International College（IC） of Xiamen University(XMU), and He Haitao, Vice Dean, embarked on an extensive multi-day visit to nearly 30 secondary schools since December 2025. The team, organized by the Admissions Office, conducted in-depth visits to key source cities for students, including Xiamen, Quanzhou, Fuzhou, Ningbo, and Shenzhen. Their itinerary included stops at institutions such as Maple Leaf Educational System and Xiamen Yingcai School. This series of research visits aims to further solidify the foundation of high-quality student sources, enhance the foresight and adaptability of talent cultivation, accelerate the establishment of a long-term mechanism for collaborative education between high schools and universities, and promote the deep integration of the student selection and cultivation systems.

Dean Yu places great emphasis on the college's admissions work, regarding inter-school collaboration as a key lever for cultivating internationally-minded talent. She personally formulated the research plan and coordinated the entire process of the visits. During these visits, the research team systematically presented the educational characteristics and achievements of the International College, Xiamen University, through seminars, dedicated information sessions, and other formats. Leveraging Xiamen University's "Double First-Class" construction platform, the college has established stable cooperative relationships with over 50 renowned universities in countries such as the United Kingdom, the United States, Australia, and Singapore. Through international cultivation programs like "3+1" and "2+2", it has successfully sent more than 8,000 students to pursue further studies abroad. Concurrently, the research team provided detailed answers to questions commonly raised by parents and students concerning pathways to further education, professional development, and academic support. This enhanced the understanding and trust of secondary school teachers and students in the college's international education model.

While expanding the student pool, the college also utilized this series of school visits as a research opportunity to gain insights from the front lines of basic education and understand the demands for international education. The research team conducted in-depth studies of each secondary school's educational philosophy, student characteristics, and their specific needs regarding international education. They carefully listened to students' concerns and suggestions regarding further education planning and major selection, gathering substantial first-hand information. Based on these research findings, the college will subsequently and continuously optimize its curriculum system, refine program designs, strengthen connections with overseas resources, and promote the enhancement of teaching quality.

The year 2025 marks the 20th anniversary of the founding of the International College, Xiamen University, and these school visits also served as a prelude to the series of college anniversary celebrations. During the visits, the research team highlighted the upcoming "International Education Forum for Secondary School Principals" to the schools, sincerely inviting their leaders and key teachers to gather in Xiamen. The aim is to engage in in-depth dialogues on topics such as the cultivation of international talent and the educational articulation between high schools and universities, jointly exploring new models for integrated talent development. This initiative seeks to gather insights and expand the influence of the anniversary celebrations.

   
Furthermore, the college consistently upholds its social responsibility to serve basic education, dedicating itself to promoting effective articulation between higher education and secondary schooling. During the visits, the research team shared international teaching resources with the secondary schools, provided support for further education guidance, and exchanged insights on curriculum design and teaching experiences. This collaboration aimed to assist the secondary schools in refining their international curriculum systems and enhancing the professional capabilities of their teaching staff. Such initiatives not only broaden the academic development pathways for secondary school students but also strengthen the university's proactive involvement at the front end of the talent cultivation chain, demonstrating the college's active commitment to collaborative education.

Looking ahead, IC will continue to consolidate and build upon the outcomes of these visits, establishing platforms for regular exchanges and cooperation with more secondary schools. The college will remain true to its founding mission of international education, fully leveraging Xiamen University's strong academic foundation and high-quality platform resources. It will persistently deepen its efforts in expanding the pool of high-quality students, enhancing the quality of talent cultivation, and intensifying inter-school collaborative innovation. The goal is to continuously elevate the "Study Abroad at Xiamen University" brand, broaden the landscape of international cooperation and exchange, and strive resolutely towards the objective of becoming a model demonstration base for the internationalization of higher education.