On Nov. 15, the 2022 China-UK University Forum on Medical Innovation Cooperation meeting was successfully held both in-person and online. The forum was jointly hosted by Sichuang University and Oxford University, leaders and representatives from the British Consulate-General Chongqing, the Education Bureau, and nearly 20 member universities of China-UK attended the meeting. Professor Leye Yao, Vice President of Sichuan University presided over the opening ceremony.
Ling Ye, Vice-President of Sichuan University, spoke highly of the great achievements had been made with the efforts of Oxford University in the Huaxi Joint Centre for Gastrointestinal Cancer. She pointed out that the two universities have jointly launched the initiative of establishing a China-UK University Medical Alliance, which has received positive responses from more than 20 universities globally. It is hoped that this forum will be taken as an opportunity to cultivate first-class medical researchers and practitioners, carry out cutting-edge scientific research, deepen exchange and cooperation, and make greater contributions to global health.
Chas Bountra, Vice-President of Oxford University indicated that the Huaxi Joint Centre for Gastrointestinal Cancer has generated fruitful outcomes. The established alliance is hoped to unite bilateral medical professionals and is committed to the treatment and research of human diseases, contributing to further human health protection.
Lei Zhao, Director of International Cooperation and Exchanges (Office of European Affairs), Ministry of Education, expressed that the Ministry of Education supports bilateral cooperation. Interdisciplinary and international scientific research between China and the UK are encouraged, the cooperation is a terrific opportunity to develop global educational partnerships, which will certainly benefit both sides and comprehensively enhance the international influence of Chinese education.
Stephen Ellison, Consul General for the British Consulate-General Chongqing, said that China and the UK have had established diplomatic relations for 50 years. In the past half-century, we have had close cooperation in all aspects and achieved flourishing progress. For the future development of the alliance, he hoped that members of the alliance would further continue to deepen institutional collaboration, enhance mutual understanding and trust, and make efforts to cultivate outstanding young professionals and innovations.
At the forum, Professor Mark Middleton, Head of the Oncology Department of the University of Oxford, Jon Frampton, Pro-Vice-Chancellor of the University of Birmingham and academician Qiao Jie, Executive Vice President of Peking University, gave keynote speeches on topics like “jointly promoting the high-quality development of health and wellness through learning, research and application”, “technology promotes the reform of medicine and the new (full life cycle) health service system”, and “the construction of the medical consortium between Chinese and British universities” and so on.
In the round-table discussion, Professor Nick Brown, Dean of Linacre College, University of Oxford, and the attending guests discussed the cooperation mode and the further development of the consortium. Dr. Weiying Chen, Vice Dean of the International School of Medicine, Zhejiang University, extended her cordial welcome to the participants on behalf of Zhejiang University. She illustrated that Zhejiang University is listed as one of the most international campuses in China, and an overwhelming majority of overseas students are studying in the MBBS program. Efforts are underway to ensure that the MBBS program meets international standards. British partners are warmly welcomed to join the task force to redesign the curriculum and standardize the MBBS in China to the British system so as to deliver an equivalent quality education. She also asserted that the possibility of collaboration in clinical medicine can be considered and explored. Working with all the partners, she hoped the forum would be the beginning of joint endeavors to change the face of medicine, through a joint pursuit of excellence in education, research and care.
The China-UK University Medical Alliance is a nonprofit university alliance that has members from universities in China and the UK, with the aim to establish closer exchanges among member universities and enhance the nurturing of talent, research collaboration, and higher education.
