A delegation of leaders and researchers from China’s Wuhan University (WHU) has visited Durham to reaffirm and strengthen the relationship between our institutions.
The WHU delegation was led by its President, Professor Zhang Pingwen.
It included academics across multiple disciplines including engineering, environmental sciences, and chemistry.
During their time in Durham, the WHU delegation met with a range of our researchers and senior leaders including our Vice-Chancellor and Warden, Professor Karen O’Brien.
The visit provided a valuable opportunity to reaffirm both universities’ ambitions to continue growing a partnership that benefits students and the global academic community. The two universities also signed a new student mobility agreement as part of the visit.
We formally established our partnership with WHU in 2018. Since then, research, staff, and student connections between our universities have flourished.
We enjoy an active academic relationship across subjects including engineering, earth science, law, archaeology, economics, translation studies and geography.
Collaborations include joint archaeology fieldwork at WHU’s Fenghuangzui Site, which is now recognised as one of our archaeological project bases in China.
Also, our School of Modern Languages and Cultures (MLAC) has developed a strong relationship with WHU’s School of Foreign Languages.
The two have maintained academic exchanges for several years, and in November 2025 launched a Young Scholars Training Camp for undergraduate students at WHU.
This is expected to result in a group of students from WHU’s School of Foreign Languages visiting Durham for a short-term exchange in spring 2026.
The visit from China’s Wuhan University reaffirms and strengthens the relationship between our institutions.
We enjoy an active academic relationship with Wuhan University across subjects including engineering, earth science, law, archaeology, economics, translation studies and geography.
We were very pleased to welcome President Zhang Pingwen and colleagues to Durham. Our partnership with Wuhan University reflects our shared commitment to advancing research and education, supported by strong research links and increasingly active collaboration across multiple disciplines. This visit has given us a valuable opportunity to review our progress and identify new areas where we can work together for the benefit of our students and staff.
Durham University and Wuhan University share a strong commitment to international engagement and academic excellence. This visit has provided a valuable opportunity to reaffirm our shared vision for collaboration and to explore how our universities can continue to contribute together to education, research, and global knowledge exchange.
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