To further strengthen cooperation and exchanges between Henan University and Aston University in the UK, and to broaden international educational approaches and channels, Vice President  Shenglei Fu led a delegation to Aston University for a friendly visit from July 11 to July 15.

On the afternoon of July 11, Shenglei Fu and his delegation arrived in Birmingham, where Aston University is located, and were warmly welcomed by the university. On the morning of July 12, Shenglei Fu and his delegation met with Osama Khan, Vice President of Aston University, to discuss cooperation between the two universities. Osama Khan first expressed his welcome to Shenglei Fu and his delegation. He considered this visit a significant milestone in the cooperation between the two universities. Since establishing a cooperative relationship, both sides have maintained friendly interactions and reached multiple consensuses. Shenglei Fu introduced the status of Henan University’s education, disciplinary development and campus construction, with a focus on the achievements made in multidisciplinary collaborative development and international cooperation. He hoped that, based on the existing cooperation, both parties would continue to promote deeper collaboration to enhance the international influence of both universities. During the meeting, both sides had an in-depth discussion on the basis and details of cooperation.

Shenglei Fu presented gifts to Aston University on behalf of HENU

Scene of the Bilateral Discussion

In the afternoon, guided by staff from Aston University’s International Affairs Office, Shenglei Fu and his delegation visited the campus, laboratories, classrooms, student activity center, and Aston’s superfactory, gaining a deep understanding of Aston University’s overall situation.

Shenglei Fu and his delegation visited Aston University’s superfactory, campus culture, and student activity center

On July 13, Shenglei Fu and his delegation held discussions with the Faculty of Mathematics and the Faculty of Engineering at Aston University, exchanging information on specific faculty conditions, teaching arrangements, and student training plans. Through these discussions, both sides gained a deeper understanding of each other’s teaching philosophies, promoting the development of cooperative activities.

Shenglei Fu and his delegation held discussion with the Faculty of Mathematics at Aston University

On the morning of July 14, Shenglei Fu and his delegation met with Aston University’s International Exchange Office. Shenglei Fu thanked them for their support and assistance during the visit and engaged in in-depth dialogue on future academic and student exchanges between the two universities. During the talks, both parties also followed up on ongoing projects and consulted on the details of future cooperation, aiming to advance more profound and practical collaboration in talent training, academic exchanges, and research cooperation.

Matt Dean, Executive Director of Aston University’s International Department, introduced the history of the university to Shenglei Fu in the History Office

Since establishing a friendly cooperative relationship with Aston University, Henan University has maintained close communication and contact. During this period, representatives from both sides have explored aspects such as international education, interdisciplinary integration, professional settings, curriculum system construction, and student training through mutual visits, meetings, and online conferences. This visit involved discussions on cooperative education, program offerings and introductions, admissions, teaching resource sharing, and student training, deepening mutual understanding and trust in cooperation.

This visit resulted in fruitful outcomes, with in-depth exchanges on program offerings and introductions, admissions, teaching resource sharing and student training, and reaching a consensus on cooperative education. Going forward, Henan University will continue to maintain good communication with Aston University to better implement the cooperative agreements reached during the visit.

Founded in 1895, Aston University is in the center of Birmingham, the second-largest city in the UK, and is a renowned technological university. The university is famous for its excellent education in business, engineering, medicine, and life sciences and is a historic public university with a research-oriented approach.