From July 21 to 26, Liu Yong, Vice President of Ocean University of China (OUC), led a delegation to visit Newcastle University and the University of East Anglia (UK), as well as the University of Lisbon and the University of the Azores (Portugal), to advance practical inter-university cooperation.

During the visit to Newcastle University, the delegation held discussions with Professor Chris Whitehead, interim Pro-Vice-Chancellor for Global, and Professor Matthew Grenby, Pro-Vice-Chancellor for Research and Innovation. The two sides reviewed the fruitful results of cooperation in faculty and student exchanges and joint research, and reached an intention to further strengthen collaboration in ocean engineering, artificial intelligence, and medical sciences. 

At the University of East Anglia (UEA), the delegation met with Pro-Vice-Chancellor Professor Steven McGuire. Both sides spoke highly of the fruitful outcomes achieved since the establishment of the strategic partnership and agreed to further deepen cooperation, particularly by expanding the joint master’s programs in environmental sciences. The delegation also held discussions with Professor Thomas Mock, Director (UK side) of the Sino-UK Joint Research Center, and Professor Jonathan Todd and others, to explore additional opportunities for practical collaboration. During the visit, the delegation also met with OUC students and visiting scholars studying at UEA.

At the University of Lisbon, Vice-Rector Professor João Peixoto met with the delegation for in-depth discussions. The two sides exchanged information about their universities’ strengths and agreed to expand cooperation in marine and ocean engineering, marine science, polar research, and medical sciences. They reached a shared intention to develop undergraduate short-term exchange programs, joint master’s and doctoral training, academic exchange, and collaborative research. 

At the University of the Azores, the delegation met with Professor Francisco Martins, Vice-Rector for Administration, Planning and Infrastructure, and Professor Maria Amélia Fonseca, Assistant Rector for International Cooperation. The two sides introduced their respective institutions and agreed to deepen cooperation in areas such as the conservation and sustainable use of marine biological resources, island ecosystem research and protection, marine environmental monitoring, and climate change response.