ZJU delegation attends International Symposium on Higher Education Leadership, Innovation and Capacity Development in Mauritius

At the invitation of the Ministry of Tertiary Education, Science and Research of Mauritius, a Zhejiang University (ZJU) delegation visited Mauritius from July 22 to 30, 2026, to attend the “International Symposium on Higher Education Leadership, Innovation and Capacity Development”. Comprising Prof. XU Xiaozhou, Prof. KAN Yue, (Dean, ZJU’s CoE), Prof. MEI Weihui (Vice Dean, ZJU’s CoE), Prof. WANG Di (Director, Office of Teaching and Learning of ZJU’s undergraduate school), Prof. HE Shanyun (Deputy Director, Office of Teaching and Learning of ZJU’s undergraduate school), Prof. KE Yuehai (Dean, Zhejiang University-University of Edinburgh Institute), and Prof. LIN Chenghua (Deputy Dean, Zhejiang University Beijing Research Center). The delegation was received by HUANG Shifang (Chinese Ambassador to Mauritius), Kaviraj Sharma Sukon (Minister, Ministry of Tertiary Education, Science and Research of Mauritius) and Kavi Kumar Khedo (Vice-Chancellor, University of Mauritius).

Co-organized with the University of Mauritius, the Open University of Mauritius, the Mauritius Institute of Education and three UNESCO platforms based at ZJU (UNESCO Entrepreneurship Education Network National Chapter in China; UNESCO Chair in Entrepreneurship Education at ZJU; and UNESCO Research Center Zhejiang University), the conference brought together over 230 delegates from more than 40 countries and regions to discuss higher education leadership, research and innovation, entrepreneurship education, capacity development, artificial intelligence and micro-credentials. Trade Dhananjay Ramful (Minister, Foreign Affairs, Regional Integration and International Trade), Minister Sukon and Ambassador HUANG Shifang addressed the opening.

At the July 27 opening, Dean KAN Yue recalled 80 years of ZJU-UNESCO cooperation and chaired a roundtable on research and innovation. The following day, Prof. XU Xiaozhou delivered an address on behalf of the co-organizers and chaired an entrepreneurship education roundtable, joined by Prof. MEI Weihui.

In thematic sessions, Prof. XU Xiaozhou, Prof. WANG Di, Prof. KE Yuehai, Prof. MEIWeihui, Research Prof. LIN Chenghua, Assoc.Prof. HE Shanyun, and PhD student of ZJU’s CoE WANG Chang delivered keynote reports on entrepreneurship education, generative AI in higher education, talent cultivation for global healthcare, China-Africa cooperation and big science programmes.

On July 29, Prof. XU Xiaozhou was interviewed by Mauritius UPSEE TV on China's educational development. The delegation also took part in a cooperation roundtable hosted by Minister Sukon and a symposium chaired by Vice-Chancellor Khedo, reaching preliminary agreement on establishing a China-Africa education cooperation body and advancing joint efforts in entrepreneurship education and AI.

Translator: WAN Ziyi
Photo: The College of Education, Zhejiang University
Editor: WANG Yiying, ZHANG Chuyun