Beijing, 26^th June, 2015(BISTU)---  Early June saw BISTU delegation led by President Liu Gonghui visit five partner universities, i.e., University of Cambridge, University of Manchester, Anglia Ruskin University, University College Cork, and Athlone Institute of Technology.  

Upon invitation of the partners, this visit aims at implement cooperation between BISTU and partner institutions in the respect of scientific research, training programme, joint master and doctoral programmes, faculty visit and staff development, and signing of corresponding agreements. The delegation members also include Dr. Lu Jing, Director of International Cooperation Department, Prof. Li Ning, Dean of School of Computer Science, Prof. Ren Weiping, Dean of School of Foreign Studies, and Prof. Zhu Lianqing, Director of Beijing Engineering Research Institute.  

The first stop is University of Manchester, the UK. This is also BISTU’s first visit to the University of Manchester. A. Brown, Vice President of the University of Manchester, together with corresponding faculties and professors, discussed and negotiated with the Delegation on students’ exchange on undergraduate and postgraduate levels and joint doctoral programme. Both institutions confirmed to launch undergraduate exchanges and reached consensus on conducting joint research. After the meeting, the Delegation was arranged campus tour to a number of colleges and labs, with talks with students and professors. 　 

At the second stop, on behalf of BISTU, President Liu Gonghui signed the trilateral agreement on joint lab, with University of Cambridge and Tsinghua University. President Liu Gonghui also held talks with Prof. Ian White, Deputy Vice Chancellor of the University of Cambridge, on daily operation and advanced level research projects. Both parties look forward to positive achievements of the cooperation. During the arranged exchange with Department of Engineering of the University, the Delegation were amazed to witness their first-class environment and the best facilities, which shows the gap between BISTU and world top institutions as well as the future direction in which BISTU is to head.  

Anglia Ruskin University is the last stop the Delegation in the UK, where Vice Chancellor Michael Thorne and Deputy Vice Chancellor Chris Chang met and talked with the Delegation on students’ exchange, faculty visit, and joint postgraduate programmes. Both institutions agreed to conduct summer short-term programme to better understand Anglia Ruskin University with its strengths and highlights so as to further cooperation in other fields. Consensus was also reached on mutual visit of faculties on regular intervals.  

The tight schedule ended with visiting two partner universities in Ireland.  

As a long-term friend, University College Cork welcomed the Delegation and showed around Tyndall--- Ireland state level lab. Principal Scientist of the Lab Prof. Eoin O’Reilly introduced about the Lab and showed interest in working together with BISTU on joint research and joint doctoral education. On the talk with Dr. Marian MacCarthy, Director of the Teaching and Learning Center, the Delegation learned more on faculty training and details of the coming autumn semester training for BISTU faculties. Dr. MacCarthy also introduced on higher education and English distance learning programme, which is able to offer distance learning service to all parts of the world.  

　　President Liu Gonghui and the Delegation also met and talked to Dr. Michael Murphy, President of UCC, Executive Vice President Paul Giller and Vice President Ronan O Doghbhaill. A series of cooperative planning was discussed. Regarding the details of cooperation, i.e., Python is better delivered at BISTU during the first year of computer majors who would join the cooperative project between BISTU and UCC, Prof. Li Ning confirmed and clarified the following steps to promote the cooperation.  。　　 

At Athlone Institute of Technology, President Ciaran O Cathain warmly welcomed the Delegation. To encourage two-bound exchange and communication on postgraduate level, ATI specially set up 3 full-scholarships for master students majoring in Software Engineering at BISTU. President Liu Gonghui and President Ciaran O Cathain signed the agreement. According to the scholarship agreement, BISTU master students , after completion of their first year and before going back for their final year at BISTU, could apply to study with AIT for one year during which they are also requested to, in addition to completion of master dissertation of AIT, participate in cooperative projects of AIT with Ericsson. During their stay with AIT, each student could apply for an annual scholarship of 6,000 Euros. Upon successful completion of their studies students will be awarded dual master degrees and will be eligible for AIT doctoral programmes. The Delegation also talked with Dr. Brain Lee, Director of AIT Software Research Institute, on research cooperation and joint doctoral degree programmes.  

The visits long, soundly planned by International Cooperation Department with fruitful achievements on international cooperation of BISTU. Existing partnership was consolidated, new channels developed, and solid foundation was also laid for short-term visit of faculties and students, joint master and doctoral programmes, scientific research cooperation, etc.