From February 27th to March 16th, President Zhang Yawei, Party secretary of ZZULI, led a delegation to visit Europe. The delegation consisted of Prof. Chen Xin, president of the International Education College (IEC) and dean of the Dept. of International Cooperation and Exchange, Prof. Lu Yanli, head of the Scientific Research Section, Prof. Gan Yong, dean of the Dept. of Computer and Communication Engineering, Prof. Wang Xinjie, dean of the Dept. of Electromechanical Science and Engineering and Prof. Xing Liping, dean of the Teaching Affairs Office of the IEC. The mission of their trip focused on visiting the universities that have newly set up cooperating partnerships with ZZULI so as to enhance and deepen these relationships. The visited universities include Napier University in Edinburgh, Scotland (browse http://iec.zzuli.edu.cn/xinwen/zlhezuo.html for introduction to this university) and South Bank University in London, England (browse http://iec.zzuli.edu.cn/xinwen/zlhezuo.html for introduction to this university).
On March 1st, Prof. Zhang Yawei and the accompanying members were warmly welcomed at Napier University. They met with President Joan Stringer, Prof. Jack Worden, chairman of the International Strategy Committee and President of Commercial College, Prof. Jon Derridge from the Computer College and so on. The two parts made a wide discussion about cooperation on teaching and research between the two universities. Before Prof. Zhang’s visit, ZZULI signed a contract on jointly schooling with Napier University, which was a start of good cooperation and contact. At this time, the two parts signed another contract which marked a more comprehensive and deeper cooperation between them. The delegation also visited the library and other teaching facilities.
On March 2nd, the delegation went to London South Bank University. President Zhang and Prof. Deian Hopkin, his counterpart in the South Bank University, signed some cooperation contracts. Also, Prof. Chen Xin, President of the IEC and Prof. Tassos G. Karayuiannis, dean of the Dept. of the Engineering System signed a contract concerning jointly schooling on the Specialty of Mechanical Refrigeration, which had very strong superiority over that of other universities in Britain. This contract was a breakthrough in the original framework of jointly schooling and created more chances of oversea education for the students of ZZULI.
During their stay in Europe, the delegation also paid visits to such world famous universities as Oxford, Cambridge, Paris University and so on. They were deeply impressed with the good teaching traditions and advanced teaching systems of western education, which had provided some references and inspirations for deepening the education reforms and exchanges of ZZULI.

Picture1. Prof. Zhang Yawei, Party secretary and president of ZZULI, and Prof. Joan Stringer, president of Napier, discussing cooperation affairs.
Picture2. Prof. Zhang Yawei, Party secretary and president of ZZULI, and Prof. Deian Hopkin, president of South Bank University at the signature ceremony.
Picture3. Teaching presentation by Napier teachers for the delegation.
Picture4. Members of the delegation and representatives from the cooperating universities.