On April 9, Professor Katie Normington, Vice-Chancellor of De Montfort University in the UK, led a delegation to Liaoning University (LNU). Party Secretary Pan Yishan attended the meeting, accompanied by Vice President Huo Chunhui.

Pan Yishan introduced to the delegation a series of initiatives and practical outcomes from the university’s integrated approach to education, technology, and talent cultivation, driven by real-scenario problems in social and economic contexts. He pointed out that the rapid development of AI technology has posed significant challenges to the development of higher education worldwide. As a convergence point for education, technology, and talent, universities should break away from “enclosure thinking”, adhere to a problem-oriented approach, and systematically build a “converter” that connects academia with real-world issues. He expressed hope that both universities, taking the opportunity of China-UK higher education exchanges and cooperation, would use real-scenario problems in social scenarios as a common entry point, break down inter-institutional and geographical barriers, and carry out in-depth and pragmatic cooperation in the integrated development of education, technology, and talent.

Katie Normington thanked Liaoning University for its warm reception and acknowledged the university’s achievements in advancing the integrated development of education, technology, and talent. She noted that by thoroughly exploring real-scenario scenarios and issues in the economy and society, Liaoning University has organically integrated talent cultivation and practical innovation into the teaching process, thereby enhancing students’ hands-on abilities and strengthening their understanding of theoretical knowledge, providing a solid theoretical and practical foundation for students as they enter the workforce. She also observed that through various practice-based research projects, the university has promoted its role in serving local economic and social development.

Katie Normington and her delegation visited Liaoning University’s one-stop community for talent cultivation, scientific research, and social services, the Liberal Arts Comprehensive Experimental Center, the Scenario Mechanism Laboratory, and the “Scenario, Problem, Innovation Laboratory” among other facilities. They gained a detailed understanding of Liaoning University’s practical explorations in advancing the integrated development of education, technology, and talent, as well as the fundamental principles of the Scenario Mechanism Laboratory.

Relevant department heads from both universities participated in the visit.