In October 2025, scholars and experts gathered in Sichuan. On October 17, the Opening Ceremony of the 2024–2025 Annual Academic Conference of the Sichuan Education Association for International Exchange and the 2025 International Exchange Month of Sichuan Normal University was successfully held at Sichuan Normal University. Professor David McGravie, Pro Vice-Chancellor of the University of Chester; Wu Hongchen, Director for China and Asia Pacific; Yang Sen, Academic Director for TNE; Xu Fan, Director for China and East Asia TNE and Chairman of Elubao Education Group; and Liu Zhigang, Director of the China Office and Global Director of Elubao Education Group, were invited to attend. The visit was facilitated and coordinated by Elubao Education Group.
01 Technology Drives the Future, Openness Offers Global Perspectives
Under the theme “Technology Drives the Future, Openness Offers Global Perspectives,” the conference brought together representatives from the China Education Association for International Exchange, the Foreign Affairs Office of the Sichuan Provincial Committee of the Communist Party of China, the Sichuan Provincial Department of Education, the Sichuan Education Association for International Exchange, the Western Belt and Road Alliance for International Educational Exchange and Cooperation, as well as leaders responsible for international exchange and cooperation from educational institutions across Sichuan Province, along with experts and scholars. At this high-profile international education exchange platform, Elubao provided effective support for the University of Chester’s participation, drawing on its professional expertise in international education.
02 From the Industrial Revolution to the Digital Age: The Evolution and Implications of British Design
In the keynote report, Professor McGravie delivered an insightful speech titled “The Evolution of British Design and Prospects for China-UK Educational Cooperation.” He systematically traced the 275-year development of British design since the Industrial Revolution, noting that over time, British design has gradually shifted from an industrial aesthetic emphasizing technical efficiency toward a more integrated system that places equal emphasis on humanities, society, and education.
Professor McGravie emphasized that the future of design lies in education. He called for deeper China-UK cooperation in areas such as cultural exchange and identity, ethics and sustainability education, joint curriculum development, and academic exchanges. He affirmed that the University of Chester will actively promote in-depth cooperation with Sichuan’s universities to achieve mutual benefit in curriculum development, research innovation, and industry practice.
“True innovation lies not only in technology but also in education and collaboration,” said Professor McGravie. “In the era of globalization and artificial intelligence, design education in China and the UK is standing at a new starting point. By working together and complementing each other’s resources, we can shape a sustainable, intelligent, and inclusive future for design.”
03 China-UK Educational Cooperation: Cultivating Globally Competitive Talent
During the annual conference, Zhang Haidong, Deputy Party Secretary of Sichuan Normal University, together with heads of relevant administrative departments, met with the University of Chester delegation.
During the meeting, both universities agreed on the importance of strengthening China-UK higher education cooperation amid profound changes in the global education landscape. They also held in-depth discussions on substantive issues such as faculty development, research collaboration, and student development, laying a solid foundation for advancing cooperative programmes in the next phase.
04 Elubao: A Committed Promoter of International Educational Cooperation
As the China Office of the University of Chester, Elubao Education Group provided comprehensive end-to-end support for this exchange. This not only demonstrates Elubao’s professionalism in international educational cooperation but also reflects its firm commitment to deepening collaboration between Chinese and overseas universities.
The successful exchange between the University of Chester and Sichuan Normal University represents another achievement by Elubao Education Group in promoting high-quality cooperation between Chinese and international universities. Looking ahead, Elubao will continue to help build more diverse and in-depth platforms for collaboration between Chinese and overseas universities, contributing to a new chapter in the high-level opening-up of China’s education sector.