VUB ECHE Hosted the Delegation from Beijing University of Agriculture, Strengthening Collaboration through LEAD Academic Network

On October 7, 2024, a delegation from the Beijing University of Agriculture (BUA), led by President Prof. Liusheng Duan, had an academic exchange meeting with the EU-China Higher Education Research Center (ECHE) at the Vrije Universiteit Brussel (VUB). Organized by the ECHE and the LEAD Academic Network, the visit aimed to enhance academic collaboration and explore new opportunities for partnership between BUA, ECHE of VUB, and the LEAD Academic Network, a platform promoting international cooperation in higher education.

The BUA delegation, comprising key faculty members from various departments, was warmly welcomed by Prof. Chang Zhu, Xiaohong Tong (International Office of VUB), and members of the EU-China Higher Education Research Center at VUB. The visit commenced with a presentation by Xiaohong Tong, International Relations Officer at VUB, highlighting VUB’s global educational initiatives, innovative learning methods, and its strong partnerships with Chinese institutions.

Following this, President Liusheng Duan provided an in-depth overview of BUA’s research focus areas, which include agricultural development, ecological health, and rural governance. He emphasized BUA's commitment to fostering global partnerships and advancing agricultural research in line with sustainable development goals.

Zhengwen Qi from the LEAD Academic Network then presented on the EU-China Higher Education Research Center and the LEAD Academic Network. He underscored the network's mission to strengthen academic ties between European and Chinese higher education institutions, and its role in fostering cross-institutional leadership training programs.

The visit concluded with a fruitful discussion on future collaboration, paving the way for deeper cooperation between BUA, ECHE of VUB, and the LEAD Academic Network, particularly in areas such as faculty exchanges, joint research projects, and academic leadership development. Other cooperation potential areas were also discussed with the officers from the International office of VUB. 

布鲁塞尔自由大学中欧高等教育研究中心接待北京农学院代表团，加强与LEAD学术联盟的合作

2024年10月7日，由段留生校长率领的北京农学院（BUA）代表团与布鲁塞尔自由大学（VUB）中欧高等教育研究中心（ECHE）进行了学术交流。此次访问由中欧高等教育研究中心与LEAD学术联盟共同组织，旨在加强学术合作，并探索北京农学院、布鲁塞尔自由大学中欧高等教育研究中心与旨在促进国际高等教育合作的LEAD学术联盟之间的合作机会。

北京农学院代表团由多个学院的主要教师组成，受到了布鲁塞尔自由大学的朱畅教授、国际关系办公室的国际关系官员同晓红及中欧高等教育研究中心成员的热情欢迎。同晓红首先介绍了布鲁塞尔自由大学的相关情况，她重点介绍了布鲁塞尔自由大学的全球教育计划、创新的教学方法及其与中国高校的合作关系。

随后，段留生校长详细介绍了北京农学院的研究重点领域，包括农业发展、生态健康及农村治理。他强调，北京农学院致力于促进全球合作，推动农业研究与可持续发展目标的接轨。

来自LEAD学术联盟的齐政文介绍了布鲁塞尔自由大学的中欧高等教育研究中心及LEAD学术联盟。他进一步强调了LEAD学术联盟的使命，即加强中欧高等教育机构之间的学术联系，并介绍了该联盟在跨院校领导力培训项目中的重要作用和丰富经验。

此次访问在关于未来合作的富有成效的讨论中圆满结束，为北京农学院、布鲁塞尔自由大学中欧高等教育研究中心与LEAD学术联盟在教师交流、联合研究项目及学术领导力发展等领域的进一步合作奠定了良好的基础。此外，双方还与布鲁塞尔自由大学国际关系办公室代表讨论了其他潜在的合作领域。