An innovation and collaboration conference for universities and institutions in Shandong, Hong Kong, and Macao was recently held in Jinan, Shandong Province for two consecutive days. Vice Rector Zhou Wanlei represented City University of Macau (CityU) at the event and witnessed the establishment of the alliance among higher education institutions. During the conference, CityU signed a cooperation agreement with Shandong University and engaged in discussions and exchanges with leaders and representatives from Qilu University of Technology to further enhance collaboration in joint cultivation and research projects. Daryl Yang, director of the Office of Global Affairs, also attended the conference.

The conference was held under the theme “pooling wisdom, enhancing connectivity, and creating a shared future.” The conference aimed to promote the integration and development of education, technology, and talent among the three places. By strengthening exchanges between institutions, facilitating research collaborations, and establishing a platform for mutual learning and cooperation, the conference aimed to accelerate the mutual advancement of industry, academia, and research.

Prior to the conference, CityU, along with 15 other universities including the Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong Baptist University, University of Macau, Macau University of Science and Technology, Shandong University, and Ocean University of China, participated in a preparatory meeting. In-depth discussions were held on the agreement, charter, and selection of council members for the alliance. As a founding member, CityU actively participated in and witnessed the establishment of the alliance. Additionally, CityU signed a cooperation agreement with Shandong University, aiming to collaborate in areas such as student and faculty exchanges, research, and high-level academic conferences.

During the conference, Vice Rector Zhou Wanlei had a meeting with Wu Yantao, party secretary of Qilu University of Technology, Zhang Yigang, director of Taiwan, Hong Kong, and Macao Affairs Office, and Wu Xiaoming, dean of the School of Computer Science and Technology. Building upon their previous collaborations, the discussions focused on topics such as joint cultivation and research projects. Both parties expressed their expectations for further collaboration and the implementation of more joint projects to promote the coordinated development of higher education between Shandong and Macao.