On October 10, the 2024 annual meeting of the Joint Management Committee for the undergraduate Software Engineering program, a collaboration between Zhengzhou University of Light Industry (ZZULI) and Fontys University of Applied Sciences (Fontys) from the Netherlands, was successfully held. Frank Henning, International Program Director from Fontys, and Zhang Cheng, Vice President of ZZULI, attended the meeting along with faculty representatives from both institutions, relevant functional departments, and college leaders.

Zhang Cheng, on behalf of ZZULI, delivered a welcome speech, reflecting on the significant achievements of the joint education program over the past few years. He pointed out that since the program’s recruitment began in September 2021, both institutions have worked closely to create an internationalized and diverse educational environment for students. This collaboration has ensured students’ access to high-quality educational resources and broader international perspectives, exploring a path that integrates international standards with local characteristics, which has facilitated and witnessed the growth and success of the students.

Frank Henning, representing Fontys, emphasized in his speech the positive experiences of Fontys faculty teaching at ZZULI and affirmed the students’ cultivation outcomes. He expressed Fontys’ commitment to continuing collaborative efforts with ZZULI to advance teaching and research cooperation between the two institutions.

The meeting reported and discussed the Software Engineering program’s operations from seven aspects: recruitment, imported courses, program management, program operation, student growth support system, student cultivation outcomes, and key tasks for the next phase. These discussions fully showcased and affirmed the work carried out and achievements made since the program’s inception. The meeting also addressed new issues arising from program operations, faculty and student exchange visits, and arrangements for imported courses in the Spring 2025 semester. Consensus was reached on adjusting the training program, arranging the graduation ceremony, and program extension.

As a significant annual event for ZZULI’s international joint education programs, the Joint Management Committee’s annual meeting provides a platform for enhancing mutual understanding and jointly exploring strategies for high-quality program operation and deepening program content. At this meeting, both institutions acknowledged the program’s accomplishments and established common goals for continued deepening of cooperation. The successful convening of this meeting further solidified the foundation of collaboration between the two parties and injected new vitality into the program partnership.