On August 30, 2024, the Global Research Institute for Finnish Education (GRIFE) at the Education University of Hong Kong, in collaboration with the Sino-Finnish Education Research Centre and JoLii, hosted a hybrid workshop titled “China’s Perceptions and Strategies on Higher Education Cooperation with Europe.” Held at Tampere University’s Linna building in Finland and via Zoom, the event brought together experts to discuss evolving dynamics in China-Europe higher education partnerships.
The workshop, moderated by Dr. Yuzhuo Cai, Senior Lecturer and Adjunct Professor at Tampere University’s Higher Education Group, featured a series of insightful presentations. Dr. Jussi Kivistö, Professor and Head of the Higher Education Group at Tampere University, and Dr. Olli-Pekka Malinen, Chair of JoLii’s Board in Finland, delivered opening remarks, setting the stage for the discussions.
Dr. Wenqin Shen, Associate Professor at Peking University’s Graduate School of Education, opened the session with a talk on China’s evolving strategies for higher education cooperation with Europe. This was followed by Dr. Gaoming Zheng, Assistant Professor at Tongji University’s Institute of Higher Education, who explored China’s perceptions of the European Union’s shifting approaches to such collaborations. Dr. Anatoly Oleksiyenko, Professor of International Higher Education at the Education University of Hong Kong, concluded the presentations by discussing cross-cultural dialogues and higher learning perspectives from Hong Kong.
The event included a Q&A session, fostering engaging discussions among participants, and a coffee break to encourage networking. The workshop highlighted the importance of understanding mutual perceptions and strategies to strengthen educational ties between China and Europe.