The University welcomed a high-level delegation from Dalian University of Technology (DUT), People’s Republic of China, on campus on 16 September 2025.

The visit marked the next step in strengthening links between DUT and the University of Bath, building on a previous visit to campus in April 2024.

The Vice-Chancellor, Professor Phil Taylor, and Pro-Vice-Chancellor (Global Engagement), Professor Manuel Barcia welcomed the delegation, led by Professor Xiang Changle, Chairman of the University Council. A formal Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) signing ceremony took place during the visit, marking a significant step in strengthening the partnership between the two universities and establishing a framework for future collaboration.

During a discussion with colleagues, including Professor Tim Ibell, Professor Momna Hejmadi, Professor Jun Zang, Professor Haiming Hang, Dr Peter Nuttall, and colleagues from the International Relations Office, a series of joint initiatives was explored. Recognising strong synergies in their respective research and teaching, staff exchanges, joint research initiatives and summer school opportunities for Bath students were identified as areas of shared interest. Expanding student and PhD exchanges, including Bath’s Visiting Postgraduate Scholar scheme, and collaborating on student recruitment were also prioritised to deepen academic ties and drive innovation.

Commenting on the visit, Professor Tim Ibell, Dean of the Faculty of Engineering and Design, said:

We already have outstanding high-quality research links with DUT and are very keen to deepen these further. The visit provided an excellent opportunity to discuss with colleagues from DUT how to progress our collaboration. This is very exciting.

Founded in 1949, DUT is a national key university under China’s Ministry of Education, located in the coastal city of Dalian in northeastern China. DUT is renowned for its strengths in science and engineering, serving over 44,000 students, including international scholars from more than 20 countries, while maintaining extensive global academic collaborations. The visit reinforced the University of Bath’s commitment to advancing international engagement and paved the way for further collaboration with one of China’s leading universities. Colleagues interested in learning more about this visit and how to get involved with the Bath-DUT collaboration are invited to contact Dr Marilyn Osgathorpe in the International Relations Office.