A senior leader from Keele University was among a small group selected to attend a recent event in China to strengthen academic relations with the UK. 

The UK–China Higher Education Forum was jointly initiated and organised by the British Council, UK Research and Innovation (UKRI), and Universities UK, with Vice-Chancellors and senior leaders from 20 UK universities visiting Beijing, Shanghai and Chengdu to promote in-depth collaboration in higher education and research between the two countries. 

Although the group was only a select few, it was the largest mission of its kind to visit China for several years, with Keele’s Professor David Law among the delegates and giving one of the keynote speeches during the Chengdu leg of the visit. 

Professor Law, Academic Director for Global Partnerships at Keele, said: “Great support was given by government-backed organisations but, as the formation of our Joint Institute with the Chengdu University of Traditional Chinese Medicine demonstrates, it is collaboration between academics in both countries that makes partnerships work well.” 

The UK is China’s second largest research partner in terms of academic co-publications, with collaborations bringing together expertise from both countries to address many of the world’s global challenges, such as climate change and public health. Through the British Council's "Generation UK" programme launched in 2013, more than 67,000 young people from the UK have also participated in study, internship, and teaching programmes in China. 

Scott McDonald, the Chief Executive of the British Council, visited China at the same time and said he was impressed by the depth of the constructive dialogue, adding: “I am delighted to see the many conversations between UK and Chinese universities, jointly contributing to the development of internationally oriented, high-quality, diverse, and inclusive education systems."