On the afternoon of October 17, North China University of Technology (NCUT) hosted an International Education Cooperation Forum in the auditorium of its Guangxue Building as part of its 80th anniversary celebrations. Under the theme "Openness, Integration and Innovation: New Pathways for Global Talent Development," the forum brought together 48 overseas delegates from 16 partner universities in 9 countries: the UK, Russia, Uzbekistan, Japan, Malaysia, Italy, Germany, the US, and Australia. They joined representatives of Chinese universities and institutions to discuss transnational education, the integration of research and education, and the use of digital and intelligent technologies in education. The forum was chaired by Chen Qun, Vice President of NCUT.

Zhang Lifeng, President of NCUT, delivered a keynote address entitled "Openness and Collaboration: Advancing the High-Quality Integrated Development of Education, Science and Technology, and Talent through Cross-Border Educational Exchange." He reviewed the University's 80-year history of openness and international cooperation and shared its experience in supporting Beijing's development as a center for international exchanges, expanding global partnerships, and educating students with an international outlook. He also reviewed China's advances in scientific and technological innovation over more than 20 years and outlined NCUT's plans to deepen international education cooperation during the 15th Five-Year Plan period and use cross-border educational exchange to advance integrated development in education, science and technology, and talent.

Representatives of overseas partner universities delivered a series of presentations. Hua Zhao, Pro-Vice-Chancellor of Brunel University of London, a Fellow of the Royal Academy of Engineering, and a Foreign Member of the Chinese Academy of Engineering, spoke on "Working Together towards a Net-Zero Future in a Fragmented World," exploring international cooperation in science, technology, and education to support the global green transition. Sibrandes Poppema, President of Sunway University in Malaysia, presented "Sunway University: A Mission-Driven Fifth-Generation University Pursuing Academic Excellence and Creating Social and Planetary Value," discussing the mission and development of universities for the future. Professor Nodirbek Ismoilov, Vice-Rector of Fergana State Technical University in Uzbekistan, outlined a vision for education across national boundaries in "Engineering Education without Borders." Kevin Kerrigan, Deputy Vice-Chancellor of the University of Hull, spoke on "The Power and Transformative Value of Global Education," examining its significance for student development. Doniyor Alijanov, Vice-Rector of Andijan State Technical University in Uzbekistan, presented "Eight Years of Partnership, Eight Decades of Heritage: Beginning a New Chapter Together," expressing hopes for continued and deeper cooperation with NCUT. Marko Princevac, Vice Provost of the University of California, Riverside, addressed academia's responsibilities in international exchange in "Sustaining Diplomacy through Academic Engagement." Shavkat Turaev, Vice-Rector of Tashkent University of Information Technologies in Uzbekistan, shared approaches to technology-enabled engineering education in "Transforming Engineering Education through International Cooperation and Technological Integration." Luca Maria Francesco Fabris, representing the Rector of Politecnico di Milano, presented "Politecnico di Milano-NCUT 2016-2026: Growing Together through Collaboration," recounting a decade of joint international education. Alina Vinitskaya, Head of International Relations at Don State Technical University in Russia, shared experience in international engineering education in "DSTU: Building the Future of Engineering across Borders." Sophie Xuefei Lu, Head of External Engagement at Lancaster University, presented "University Governance in a Global Context: UK Experience in Transnational Education," discussing UK approaches to quality assurance in transnational education.

Scholars from different countries shared experience and ideas, reviewed progress in international education cooperation, and discussed trends in the digital transformation of education, transnational education governance, engineering education reform, and collaborative innovation linking research and education. They also explored new models of international joint education.

To mark its 80th anniversary, NCUT and 13 universities from 7 countries, the UK, Germany, Japan, Australia, Russia, Uzbekistan, and Malaysia, launched the "Initiative for International University Cooperation in Intelligent Engineering" to establish a multilateral platform for collaboration in the field. The forum supported NCUT's participation in global education governance and efforts to expand international education cooperation, while helping move the initiative from agreement to action. It strengthened mutual understanding and friendship with partner universities and offered ideas for refining NCUT's international partnerships and developing more substantive cooperation during the 15th Five-Year Plan period.

NCUT will build on the forum to deepen practical cooperation with international partners and expand its international engagement. These efforts will strengthen the University's international profile and competitiveness, support Beijing's high-standard opening-up, and advance NCUT's development as a high-level engineering university with distinctive strengths.