From December 10 to 14, President Yang Zongkai of Wuhan University of Technology (WUT) joined a Ministry of Education delegation to the United Kingdom for a series of educational exchanges. During the visit, President Yang also toured Hughes Hall at the University of Cambridge. The visit aimed to advance the consensus between President Xi Jinping and UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer, reinforcing the strategic partnership between China and the UK through mutual respect, openness, cooperation, and exchange, to achieve mutual benefits and chart a new course for stable and healthy bilateral relations.

Figure 1 Vice Minister of Education Wu Yan takes a group photo with delegates at the 2024 World MOOC and Online Education Conference

On the morning of December 12, the 2024 World MOOC and Online Education Conference, jointly organized by the Global MOOC and Online Education Alliance and the UNESCO Institute for Information Technologies in Education, convened at Queen Mary University of London. With the theme “Reimagining Higher Education in the Era of Intelligence,” the conference brought together 340 delegates from 135 universities, online education platforms, international organizations, and government agencies across 28 countries and regions.

During the opening ceremony, two seminal reports, the 2024 Global Digital Higher Education Development Report and the 2024 Global Digital Higher Education Development Index, were unveiled, heralding the advent of the “Smart Education Era” in global higher education. Additionally, the conference introduced exemplary applications of smart education for the first time. UNESCO Assistant Director-General for Education Stefania Giannini, Chinese Vice Minister of Education Wu Yan, and other prominent officials delivered speeches. President Yang was an invited guest at the opening ceremony.

Figure 2 President Yang Zongkai delivers a thematic report at the keynote forum of the 2024 World MOOC and Online Education Conference

That afternoon, during the conference’s primary keynote forum, President Yang delivered a keynote speech titled “Transforming Higher Education for the Future: Deep Reconfiguration of the University Model.” He elaborated on the concept of the “Smart Education Era” and highlighted the pressing challenges universities face in building more resilient higher education systems for the digital age. He emphasized the importance of cultivating future-ready talent capable of thriving in a rapidly evolving world. In closing, President Yang announced that the 2025 World Education Digitalization Conference will be held in Wuhan, extending a warm invitation to global representatives to join the event.

Figure 3 President Yang Zongkai attends the China-UK Higher Education Roundtable and Launch Ceremony of the UK Chapter of the “Europe Doubling Initiative”

Figure 4 President Yang Zongkai delivers a keynote speech at the China-UK Higher Education Roundtable and Launch Ceremony of the UK Chapter of the “Europe Doubling Initiative”

As part of the conference, the China-UK Higher Education Roundtable and the launch of the UK chapter of the “Europe Doubling Initiative” took place in London. The event was attended by over 100 representatives from China and the UK, including Vice Minister Wu Yan, Chinese Ambassador to the UK Zheng Zeguang, UK Minister of State for Education Smith, and Queen Mary University President Colin Bailey. President Yang participated in the launch ceremony and delivered a speech titled “Driving Openness and Collaboration through Digital Transformation,” where he introduced WUT’s strategic advancements in digital education. He highlighted the university’s pivotal role in talent cultivation and technological innovation for China’s building materials, transportation, and automotive industries. President Yang also shared WUT’s efforts to align with global scientific and technological frontiers, strengthen disciplinary development, and foster international cooperation, extending an invitation for deeper collaboration with other institutions.

In addition to the conference, President Yang visited Hughes Hall at the University of Cambridge, where he engaged in in-depth discussions with the Cambridge Center for the Future of Digital Education. He introduced WUT’s initiatives in advancing digital education and explored Cambridge’s best practices in enhancing educators’ digital competencies and professional development in the digital age. Both sides expressed intent to establish deeper collaborations in the field of digital education.

President Yang’s visit not only strengthened Wuhan University of Technology’s global academic presence but also paved the way for broader cooperation and innovation in higher education digitalization.

Written by: Li Yayu

Rewritten by: Liang Muwei

Edited by: Wang Jingjing, Li Tiantian, Liang Muwei

Source: International Office of WUT