The LEAD Academic Network successfully held the Forum on Innovation Education and Policies at UCAS and Inauguration Ceremony

The LEAD Academic Network's Forum on Innovation Education and Policies & Cooperation of European and Chinese Higher Education convened on March 30, 2024, at the University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, further cementing the collaborative efforts initiated during the HPPD dialogue parallel meetings and enhancing academic dialogues and exchanges among LEAD Academic Network members.

Anthony Antoine, Executive Director of the School of Governance at VUB, opened the forum with a retrospective of the evolution of the LEAD Academic Network’s progress, setting a forward-looking agenda for the gathering.

Prof. Haiyan WANG from UCAS extended a warm welcome to the attendees, detailing UCAS's innovative talent development approaches, such as the Sino-Danish Doctoral School, and the strategic context provided by the Huairou District of Beijing.

Prof. Xuemei Yu, Chair of the Governing Committee of the LEAD Academic Network, emphasized the importance of academic exchange in fostering EU-China relationships and the role of the LEAD Academic Network in supporting these endeavors through trust and knowledge sharing.

Dr. Gaoming Zheng from Tongji University led a roundtable session where participants discussed their institutions’ roles and visions for EU-China higher education cooperation. Prof. Luc Taerwe shared Ghent University's initiatives on student mobility and research collaboration with Chinese institutions. Prof. Ling Zhang highlighted Guangxi Normal University's plans to expand joint education programs with European universities. Prof. Joao Amaro de Matos of NOVA Lisbon University showcased their partnerships with top Chinese universities, particularly in finance and business, while Prof. Yong Xie of UCAS discussed the international cooperative Master and PhD programs, citing the Sino-Danish College as a prime example. Prof. Yan Wang from Tongji University brought to light Tongji’s historic ties with European universities and current transformations in digitalization and interdisciplinary cooperation. Prof. Yue Kan from Zhejiang University emphasized his expectations for cooperative mechanisms in education and research. Prof. Jun LI from Beijing Institute of Education expressed her interest in exploring cooperation opportunities to bring academic leadership in the training of primary and middle school teachers.

The second roundtable forum, steered by Prof. Wenji Fan from Guangxi Normal University, tackled the subjects of innovation policies and the impact of AI on digital innovations. Participants like Prof. Yan Liu, Prof. Tara Qian Sun, and Prof. Yasar Kondakci delved into multidisciplinary research, ethical AI innovations, and the institutional need for universities to adapt to technological disruptions. Prof. Antonio Rendas from NOVA urged for a balanced approach between human capabilities and technological advancements, highlighting the LEAD Network as an exchange hub for effective practices. Prof. Vinayagum Chinapah from Stockholm University called for confidence-building leadership and international collaboration through platforms like UNESCO.

In the final roundtable devoted to international cooperation, Prof. Xin XING from Yan’an University expressed the desire to involve more European academics in the network, while Prof. Melita Kovacevic from Zagreb University underscored the importance of quality and commitment within the network. Prof. Kongwen GUAN from Beihang University shared his personal development story as a testament to the network's value. Prof. Wei SHEN of Zhejiang University proposed actionable steps for enhancing international education collaboration within the network.

Then, the meeting reached its zenith with the unveiling of the LEAD Academic Network plaque by the mayor of Yanqi County and the president of the LEAD Academic Network Advisory Committee, signifying a steadfast commitment to the Network's burgeoning role in fostering long-term academic ties and exchanges. Prof. Xuemei YU closed the meeting, thanking attendees and highlighting the inauguration of the LEAD Academic Network’s new base at Huairou district in Beijing as a reinforced commitment to ongoing collaboration. The LEAD Academic Network European secretariat is set at VUB in Brussels, and the Chinese secretariate is set at NAEA in Beijing.

In the fast-evolving landscape of international higher education, the forum and the unveiling of the LEAD Academic Network serve as an enabler in promoting innovative education and policy cooperation between European and Chinese higher education institutions, aspiring for shared success and academic prosperity.

LEAD学术联盟在中国科学院大学成功举办创新教育与政策论坛及联盟之家揭牌仪式

2024年3月30日，LEAD学术联盟在中国科学院大学成功举办了“创新教育与政策暨欧洲及中国高等教育合作论坛”，这一论坛进一步巩固了LEAD学术联盟在中欧高级别人文交流机制对话的平行活动中所取得的成果，并推动了LEAD学术联盟成员间的学术对话与交流。

布鲁塞尔自由大学治理学院执行主任安东尼·安托万主持了此次论坛开幕式。他回顾了LEAD学术联盟发展的历程，并为与会嘉宾介绍了此次论坛的议程。中国科学院大学的王海燕教授向与会者表示热烈欢迎，并详细介绍了中国科学院大学在人才培养创新方面的实践，如中丹博士学院的建立，以及大学所处的怀柔区提供的战略区位优势。

LEAD学术联盟管理委员会主席于雪梅教授强调了学术交流在促进中欧关系中的重要性，并突出了LEAD学术联盟在建立信任和知识分享方面所起到的作用。

来自同济大学的郑高明博士主持了此次论坛的第一个圆桌会议，与会者们讨论了他们所在机构在中欧高等教育合作中所扮演的角色和对未来合作的愿景。根特大学的卢克·塔尔韦教授分享了根特大学在学生流动性以及与中国高等教育机构研究合作等领域所采取的举措。广西师范大学的张玲副教授介绍了广西师大对于与欧洲大学合作办学方面的期待。新里斯本大学副校长若昂·阿马罗·德马托斯教授展示了他们与中国顶尖大学在金融和商业领域的合作伙伴关系，中国科学院大学的谢勇处长则以中丹学院为例介绍了国科大在硕士和博士培养方面进行的国际合作。同济大学的王雁副教授介绍了同济大学与欧洲大学的历史渊源以及同济大学当前在数字化、绿色化和跨学科合作方面的所做出的转变。浙江大学的阚阅教授表达了他对与欧洲大学在教学和科研领域建立合作机制的期待。来自北京教育学院的李军教授表示有兴趣探索合作机会，在中小学教师培训方面进一步发挥学术领导力的作用。

会议的第二个圆桌论坛由广西师范大学的凡文吉副教授主持，该论坛聚焦创新政策和人工智能对数字创新的影响。来自云南农业大学的刘艳教授、中国科学院大学的孙茜副教授和土耳其中东科技大学的亚萨尔·康达克奇教授分别探讨了交叉学科研究、符合伦理的人工智能应用创新以及大学在适应技术变革方面存在的机构需求。新里斯本大学前校长安东尼奥·伦达斯教授呼吁高校在人力资源和技术进步之间寻找平衡，并强调了LEAD学术联盟作为有效的交流实践分享经验的平台的重要性。来自斯德哥尔摩大学的文尼亚古姆·奇纳帕教授呼吁通过如联合国教科文组织等国际平台，建立值得信任的领导力并推动国际合作。

在关于国际合作话题的最后一个圆桌讨论中，来自延安大学的邢鑫教授表达了希望更多的欧洲学术界成员加入LEAD学术联盟的愿望，萨格勒布大学前校长梅利塔·科瓦切维奇教授则强调了LEAD学术联盟成员参与质量和对联盟作出贡献的重要性。北航大学的关孔文副教授通过分享个人职业发展经历说明了LEAD学术联盟的价值。浙江大学的沈伟教授则提出了四点加强LEAD学术联盟促进国际教育合作的具体措施建议。

随后，北京市雁栖镇党委书记王鹏及LEAD联盟咨询委员会主席为LEAD学术联盟揭牌，这标志着LEAD学术联盟将在促进长期学术联系和交流方面所作出更坚定的承诺。于雪梅教授发表了总结致辞，感谢所有与会者，并肯定了LEAD学术联盟之家揭牌为持续合作所带来的承诺与促进作用。LEAD学术联盟的欧洲秘书处设在比利时的布鲁塞尔自由大学VUB，中方秘书处设在国家教育行政学院。

在国际高等教育快速发展的形势下，此次论坛及LEAD学术联盟之家的揭牌为促进中欧之间的创新教育和政策合作、实现共同成功和学术繁荣起到了进一步的推动作用。