On March 14th, a 17-member delegation from Northern Ireland's Department of Education paid a friendly visit to our university and several educational institutions in Huangshi. The visit was jointly organized by our university and the Confucius Institute for Northern Ireland at Ulster University, with strong support and coordination from relevant departments.
In the morning, Ma Liejun, Deputy Secretary of the Party Committee of the university, along with heads of related departments, attended the welcoming ceremony and delivered a warm speech. Ma briefly introduced the university’s profile and its achievements in international cooperation and exchange in the field of education, while expressing the hope to establish a long-term partnership with Northern Ireland’s Department of Education. Margaret Miller, head of the delegation, reciprocated with sincere gratitude and elaborated on the purpose and expectations of the visit. Both sides engaged in in-depth discussions on potential collaborations in teacher training, student exchanges, curriculum development, and other areas, reaching multiple consensuses.
Subsequently, accompanied by Gong Bo, Director of International Exchange Department, the delegation visited Zhongshan Primary School in Huangshi. The school arranged a series of activities, including classroom observations, campus culture exhibitions, and interactive exchanges between teachers and students. The delegation members immersed themselves in the classroom environment, experiencing the unique charm of China’s basic education. They spoke highly of the school’s advanced educational philosophy, diverse teaching methods, and the positive spirit of the students, describing the visit as not only a learning opportunity but also a vivid practice of cultural and educational exchange between China and the UK.
At noon, Yu Yuanhan, Head of the United Front Work Department of Huangshi, along with municipal government representatives, hosted a luncheon for the delegation. During the meal, Yu introduced Huangshi’s historical and cultural heritage, socio-economic development, and achievements in education, emphasizing the long-standing friendship between the people of Huangshi and Northern Ireland. He expressed hope that this visit would serve as a platform to expand and deepen exchanges and cooperation in education, culture, economy, and other fields, fostering mutual benefits and greater well-being for both regions.
In the afternoon, Gong Bo led the delegation to Huangshi No. 1 High School, where they held in-depth discussions with school leaders and key teachers on topics such as educational management, teaching innovation, and talent cultivation. Zhang Xiaoju, Vice Dean of the School of Education Science at our university, along with 16 faculty and student representatives, participated in the seminar. Both sides engaged in extensive discussions on shared educational concerns, including the internationalization of curricula, the development of comprehensive student evaluation systems, and pathways for teacher professional growth. They exchanged experiences and insights, laying a solid foundation for future substantive collaborative projects.
The visit yielded fruitful results, with both sides agreeing to maintain close communication and actively promote the implementation of cooperative initiatives to advance the development of Chinese and British education. As a key facilitator and organizer of this visit, our university will continue to leverage its strengths, integrate resources, and contribute to the internationalization of Huangshi’s education system, enhancing its global influence and competitiveness.
