On the morning of April 9, Richard Follett, Vice-President of the University of Exeter (Exon), UK, and his delegation visited Beijing Normal University at Zhuhai (BNU Zhuhai). Dai Wei, Deputy Director of the Administrative Committee and Secretary General of BNU Zhuhai, received the guests. Heads of the Bay Area International Business School of BNU, the Innovation and Development Research Center of the Institute for Advanced Studies in Humanities and Social Sciences, and the Academic Affairs and International Office at BNU Zhuhai attended the reception.
Dai Wei welcomed the guests and introduced the basic information about BNU Zhuhai, including its achievements in talent training, scientific research, international exchanges and other aspects. He said that BNU Zhuhai and Exon have maintained communication and contact since 2021, establishing mutual trust and friendship through early exchanges. This year marks the third decade of the China-UK comprehensive strategic partnership. He hopes that both sides will take this opportunity to inspire new ideas for innovative exchanges and cooperation, explore new paths for educational development, and build a new platform for collaborative education through this exchange.
Richard Follett expressed his heartfelt thanks for the kind hospitality of BNU Zhuhai. He then introduced the general situation of Exon and its international development, especially its active engagement and remarkable achievements in the fields of education, environmental science, interdisciplinary research and other aspects. He also mentioned that Exon attaches great importance to exchanges and cooperation with Chinese universities. He hopes that, in the future, the two sides could deepen bilateral communication, expand exchange fields, and explore the possibility of cooperation under various modes.
Subsequently, the two parties discussed cooperation in joint student training, teacher exchanges, scientific research and other aspects. On the same day, the delegation also visited the campus and praised its complete and advanced teaching facilities and beautiful natural scenery.
The University of Exeter (Exon) is a public comprehensive research university in the UK. It was founded in the mid-19th century, and officially established as a university by royal charter in 1955. It is now a member of the British Russell University Group, the Association of Commonwealth Universities and the GW4 Alliance. It has world-class research levels in business, art, education, engineering, law, medicine, science, social science, sports science and many other disciplines, and is ranked 153rd in the 2024QS World University Rankings.