From October 27 to 29, a delegation from Manchester Metropolitan University (MMU) led by Jenny Watling, Pro-Vice-Chancellor for International Affairs, visited Sichuan International Studies University (SISU) to strengthen collaboration on the proposed SISU–MMU Joint College. SISU President Dong Hongchuan and Deputy Party Secretary Gou Chaoli met with the visitors to discuss the next phase of the partnership.

The visit began with a joint meeting where representatives from both universities reviewed the progress of the joint college project and set key goals for the discussions ahead. The MMU delegation then toured SISU’s University History Museum, Library, Smart Classrooms, Specialized Laboratories, and Student Activity Center, gaining firsthand insight into the university’s academic resources and campus facilities.

On October 28, working groups from both universities held a series of focused discussions on academic due diligence, revisions to the cooperation agreement, and curriculum and syllabus design. The two sides reached further consensus on supplementing due diligence materials, refining the cooperation framework, and finalizing course structures and faculty arrangements — laying a solid foundation for the timely submission of the joint college application.

During a wrap-up meeting on October 29, President Dong Hongchuan emphasized SISU’s commitment to deepening high-quality international cooperation. He noted that the SISU–MMU Joint College would become an important platform for advancing SISU’s internationalization and fostering innovative models of global education. Jenny Watling reaffirmed MMU’s full support for the joint college initiative and expressed confidence that it would stand as a hallmark of meaningful collaboration between the two universities.

The visit concluded with the signing of the SISU–MMU Joint Faculty Development Agreement, opening new pathways for international faculty training and academic exchange, and further strengthening ties between the two institutions.