On November 10, Nanchang University (NCU) and Queen Mary University of London (QMUL) held the unveiling ceremony for their Joint Education Institution, the Nanchang University Queen Mary School. The event was attended by distinguished guests including: Zheng Lei, Director of the Jiangxi Provincial Department of Education; Luo Sihai, Secretary of the CPC Nanchang University Committee; Chen Yeguang, President of Nanchang University and Academician of the Chinese Academy of Sciences; Li Qinghong, Deputy Director of the Jiangxi Development and Reform Commission; Professor Colin Bailey, President of Queen Mary University of London and Fellow of the Royal Academy of Engineering; Professor Wen Wang, Vice President of Queen Mary University of London and Fellow of the Royal Academy of Engineering; Ge Gang, Vice President of Nanchang University; Shen Weiqi, Secretary of the CPC Committee of the University of Nottingham Ningbo China; Mike McCourt, Deputy Director of Life Sciences and Healthcare for China at the British Consulate-General in Guangzhou; as well as leaders and experts from other provincial departments and sister universities. The ceremony was presided over by NCU Vice Presidents Wang Li and Pan Bingxing.
At the ceremony, Ge Gang read out the approval document from the Ministry of Education. Zheng Lei, Luo Sihai, Chen Yeguang, Li Qinghong, Colin Bailey, Wen Wang, Luo Zhijun (Dean of Nanchang University Queen Mary School), Mike McCourt, and Mark Maconochie (Director of Sino-UK Joint Projects at Queen Mary University of London) jointly unveiled the plaque for the institution.
Professor Colin Bailey expressed his sincere gratitude to the leaders, experts, scholars, and friends from various sectors for their care and support of the collaboration between Nanchang University and Queen Mary University of London. He provided a brief overview of Queen Mary University's history and academic breakthroughs, tracing the profound and fruitful partnership between the two universities. He stated that the unveiling of the Joint Education Institution symbolizes the deepening of this partnership—a partnership built on mutual respect, shared academic pursuits, and a common vision of transforming lives through education and research. He affirmed their commitment to working together to cultivate the next generation of scientists, doctors, and medical professionals, thereby injecting new momentum into the advancement of global health. Finally, he expressed his hope that the Nanchang University Queen Mary School will yield abundant scientific research achievements and become a beacon of successful partnership in the years to come.
President Chen Yeguang extended a warm welcome to all leaders and distinguished guests and expressed his heartfelt gratitude to those from various sectors for their long-standing support for Nanchang University's development. He reviewed the history and achievements of the collaboration between Nanchang University and Queen Mary University of London, stating that the successful approval of the Joint Education Institution marks a new starting point for the university's international exchange and cooperation, as well as a milestone in its internationalization. He emphasized that its launch opens a new chapter in the partnership between the two universities. NCU will seize this opportunity to cultivate more high-quality, interdisciplinary medical talents capable of addressing future health challenges by leveraging the combined strengths of both universities' disciplinary platforms and faculty resources. Furthermore, the university will deepen the substance of internationalization and expand collaboration in areas such as the integration of research and education, talent cultivation, and cultural exchanges. The goal is to establish the Joint Education Institution as a high-level, distinctive model of Sino-foreign cooperation in education, thereby enhancing NCU's international influence, supporting the high-quality development of regional healthcare, and contributing to the national and provincial goals of building a powerful education system.
During the keynote speech session, Shen Weiqi delivered a presentation titled “The Governance Mechanisms of Sino-Foreign Cooperative Universities: A Case Study of UNNC”. Drawing upon the successful practices and explorations of the University of Nottingham Ningbo China, he provided an in-depth analysis of the core mechanisms and key success factors in governance structure, quality assurance, and cultural integration within such institutions. His insights offered valuable references and profound inspiration for the innovative development of Nanchang University’s Sino-foreign cooperative education initiatives.
During the event, attendees also visited an exhibition showcasing the achievements of Queen Mary School.
The launch of the Joint Education Institution between Queen Mary University of London and Nanchang University marks a new chapter in their educational collaboration. It represents a significant move by Nanchang University to actively support the national "New Medicine" strategy and contribute to regional development. As Jiangxi's first high-level Sino-foreign cooperative education institution in medicine, the new institution will admit its first students in 2026. It will concentrate on cutting-edge interdisciplinary fields such as precision medicine and data science, integrating high-quality educational resources from both China and the UK, and is committed to cultivating outstanding talents equipped with international perspectives and innovative capabilities.
