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Alison Dell (Chinese name: Dai Ailing), Minister-Counsellor for Education and Research of Australian Embassy in China, and Lei Xiaofeng, Senior Executive of the Education and Research Section of Australian Embassy, visited Hubei University to exchange insights of deepening China-Australia higher education cooperation on May 14. Liu Zhihong, Member of the Standing Committee of the CPC Hubei University Committee and Vice President of Hubei University, along with representatives from relevant departments of the Foreign Affairs Office of Hubei Provincial People’s government, the International Office of Hubei University, the School of Resources and Environmental Sciences, and the School of Public Administration, attended the event.  

Liu Zhihong extended a warm welcome to the delegation on behalf of Hubei University and briefed the delegation on the recent developments of Hubei University and its collaborative exchanges with Australian universities. He emphasized that Hubei University attaches great importance to the cooperation with Australian universities and has established intercollegiate relations with more than 20 of them, facilitating frequent faculty and student exchanges and academic communication. Among them, the international education programmes at undergraduate level with Deakin University and University of Canberra have a history spanning over a decade. Moving forward, Hubei University will actively promote more comprehensive and high-quality cooperation with Australian universities in areas of talent cultivation and cultural exchange. He also extended a warm invitation to more Australian students to participate in exchange programs of Hubei University.  

Dai Ailing extended her gratitude for the warm reception of Hubei University and spoke highly of the constructive impact of Sino-Australian educational cooperation. She emphasized that China-Australia relation is an essential pillar of the Australian government's diplomatic strategy, and Australia consistently regards international education and bilateral collaboration as vital pathways to foster mutual cultural connectivity and advance high-quality global education development. The Australian Embassy in China will continue to promote practical cooperation between Australian universities and Hubei University in areas of joint talent cultivation and interdisciplinary academic exchanges, striving to elevate bilateral education cooperation and people-to-people exchanges to a higher level.

Representatives from the School of Resources and Environmental Sciences, and the School of Public Administration introduced the progress of two international education programs: Environmental Engineering and International Affairs and International Relations. Dai Ailing proposed to promote mutual recognition of online education degrees and optimize course credit recognition mechanisms. She also highlighted Australia’s measures to ensure the quality of higher education and safeguard student rights and interests. Both sides agreed that digital education cooperation and the construction of quality assurance systems will serve as key focus areas for future collaboration.

During her visit, Dai Ailing also engaged discussions with faculty members dispatched by Deakin University and the University of Canberra. She also visited Manchester Metropolitan Joint Institute of Hubei University and toured teaching facilities and the internationalized educational environment. She highly commended the achievements of the Hubei University’s international education programs.