On December 9, 2024, the Joint Industrial Advisory Board Meeting of Glasgow College Hainan and Glasgow College was held at the Lingshui Li’an International Education Innovation Pilot Zone in Hainan. Attendees included Professor Di Aiying, Secretary of the Party Committee of the College; Professor Ce Zhu, Dean of Glasgow College; Professor Guanghui Liu, Dean of Glasgow College Hainan; Robert Partridge, Executive Dean (UK Side); and Yang Zhao, Assistant to the Director of the Lingshui Li’an International Education Innovation Pilot Zone Administration Bureau and General Manager of the Pilot Zone Development Company. Representatives from 12 enterprises, including Huawei Technologies Co., Ltd., Hisilicon Technologies Co., Ltd., and VeriSilicon Microelectronics (Hainan) Co., Ltd., were also invited to discuss talent cultivation, internships, and industry-academia collaboration. New members of the Industrial Advisory Board were officially appointed during the meeting. The event was chaired by Wang Yinghua, Deputy Secretary of the Party Committee of the College.
In her welcome speech, Professor Di Aiying expressed her gratitude for the strong support of corporate partners in student practical education. She emphasised that this gathering was a rare "spring rendezvous" and highlighted the crucial role enterprises play in helping students apply classroom knowledge to real-world work scenarios.
Professor Guanghui Liu extended a warm welcome to the corporate representatives and introduced the educational philosophy, talent cultivation model, and industry-academia collaboration initiatives of Glasgow College Hainan. He stated that the college is committed to deep integration with enterprises through joint projects such as discipline competitions and internships, ensuring that teaching content aligns with industry needs. This approach cultivates well-rounded talents with both solid theoretical foundations and strong practical skills, continuously improving the quality of talent development.
Professor Ce Zhu provided a detailed overview of Glasgow College, covering enrollment, graduate outcomes, talent cultivation, industry collaboration, and future development plans. He emphasized the critical role of industry-academia cooperation in enhancing teaching quality, advancing disciplines, and strengthening students' practical abilities. He also expressed sincere gratitude to enterprises for their support in joint curriculum development, innovation boot camps, and faculty training, expressing hope for deeper collaboration in more fields to foster innovative talent and contribute to societal progress.
Yang Zhao, representing the Lingshui Li’an International Education Innovation Pilot Zone, welcomed the enterprises and introduced the zone’s development plan and policies under the Hainan Free Trade Port. He expressed hopes for further collaboration in developing the local electronics industry within the pilot zone.
During the appointment ceremony, Professor Guanghui Liu presented certificates to three Hainan-based enterprises—VeriSilicon Microelectronics (Hainan) Co., Ltd., Unionman Digital Technology Co., Ltd., and China United Network Communications Co., Ltd. Hainan Branch—officially welcoming them to the Industrial Advisory Board. Professor Ce Zhu appointed three additional enterprises: Fibocom Wireless Inc., Nanjing Integrated Circuit Industry Service Center, and Chengdu UESTC University Science Park Incubator Co., Ltd.
The meeting concluded with an in-depth discussion moderated by Professor Guanghui Liu, where corporate representatives exchanged ideas on key areas such as industry-academia course design, internship arrangements, collaboration platforms, and talent cultivation objectives. Representatives shared industry insights and practical needs, offering valuable suggestions to enhance the effectiveness of collaboration. Many enterprises expressed interest in exploring internship programs to provide students with more career development opportunities, bridging academic knowledge with real-world applications.
The successful convening of the Joint Industrial Advisory Board Meeting has injected new vitality into the collaboration between the college and enterprises, elevating cooperation to a higher level. The positive feedback from corporate representatives has strengthened the college’s resolve to deepen industry-academia integration and provided strong confidence for future development. These insights will serve as a solid foundation for further improving educational quality and expanding partnerships.
Moving forward, the college will seize this opportunity to integrate high-quality resources from both academia and industry, comprehensively enhancing talent cultivation. Through closer collaboration, the college aims to nurture high-caliber professionals who meet industry demands while providing robust talent and intellectual support for sustainable industrial development, further driving the integration of industry, education, and research.
Appendix: Introduction to the Industrial Advisory Board of Glasgow College & Glasgow College Hainan
The Industrial Advisory Board is a key initiative in teaching reform, designed to incorporate professional insights from industry leaders. By deepening collaboration with enterprises, the board leverages the strengths of both sides to refine curriculum design and talent cultivation strategies. This ensures continuous improvement in the quality of talent development, enhances international education standards, and cultivates graduates with strong market competitiveness.
