From May 16th to 17th, a special training session themed “Enhancing Internationalization and Strengthening GZU” took place at the West Campus. Over the course of one and a half days, notable experts shared their experiences and practices on conducting international exchanges and cooperation, promoting university internationalization, and advancing the internationalization of academic disciplines. Yuan Shouqi, former Party Secretary of Jiangsu University, presented on “Strategic Thinking and Practice of University Internationalization: The Case of Jiangsu University.” Zhang Weiguo, Party Secretary of Southwest University, discussed “Thoughts and Exploration of International Exchanges and Cooperation in the Context of ‘Double First-Class’ Construction.” Chen Xinxue, Deputy Director of the Faculty of Agriculture, Life and Environmental Sciences at Zhejiang University, reported on “Effectively Conducting International Cooperation and Exchanges to Build a World-Class Agricultural Discipline at Zhejiang University.” In addition to reports and presentations, the experts also engaged with the trainees in discussions.

At the opening ceremony of the training, Yang Wei, Secretary of the CPC GZU Committee and President of the GZU Party School, emphasized the crucial role of internationalization in promoting the high-quality development of the university. She noted that despite GZU’s progress in international exchanges and cooperation, its internationalization capacity and level still need significant improvement to meet high-quality development goals. This training, focused on addressing problems, goals, and demands, was intended to incorporate the valuable experiences and practices of high-level universities like Jiangsu University, Southwest University, and Zhejiang University. It aimed to transform ideas, promote extensive exchanges, and establish a new pattern of effective international exchanges and cooperation at GZU. The ultimate goal is to comprehensively improve the university’s international prestige and influence, accelerating GZU’s development into a “high-level, domestically first-class, and internationally renowned comprehensive university.”

Song Bao’an, academician of the Chinese Academy of Engineering and President of GZU, highlighted during the training that the lectures from the prestigious leaders and experts helped the participants enhance their awareness of international exchanges and cooperation, broaden their horizons, and expand their thinking. He urged everyone at GZU to integrate their personal roles, work, and responsibilities with the university’s practical conditions, identify gaps and weaknesses, and clarify directions for improvement. Each department should seek to apply the useful experiences and practices learned from the training to their practical work, actively seeking and proposing feasible measures to enhance GZU’s internationalization to a new level.

The training was attended by all university-level leaders and division-level heads of GZU, along with the entire staff from the Office of International Relations and the College of International Education. Additionally, personnel engaged in international cooperative education programs at North Alabama International College of Engineering and Technology, the College of Tourism and Culture Industry, and the College of Big Data and Information Engineering were also present.

Editor: Kang Meihua

Chief Editor: Pang Aizhong

Senior Editor: Li Xufeng

Translator: Jia Haibo