To deepen the integration of vocational and higher education and explore innovative pathways for university-industry collaboration and international educational exchange, on January 7, Yang Ping, Chair of the Board of the Group and College, and Yang Jie, President, led a delegation to Xi'an Jiaotong-Liverpool University (XJTLU) for an exchange visit. Both sides engaged in in-depth discussions on educational practices and the co-establishment of a "Dream Academy" and other core topics.

The delegation first visited the XJTLU campus, experiencing firsthand its advanced educational environment and innovative academic atmosphere. Subsequently, an in-depth dialogue on educational development officially commenced.

Professor Youmin Xi, Executive President of Xi'an Jiaotong-Liverpool University, first shared the educational philosophy and operational mechanism of the "XJTLU Dream Academy." Its boundary-breaking training model that emphasizes practice and innovation provided a clear reference blueprint for the cooperation between both parties. Following this, Chair Yang Ping elaborated on the development overview of the Group and College, demonstrating the institution's years of accumulated expertise in vocational education and its determination to seek breakthroughs.

During the core exchange session, Professor Xiaojun Zhang, Chief Officer of Education at Xi'an Jiaotong-Liverpool University, together with leaders from the Academy of Future Education and Dr. Jian Chen, Head of the Institute of Leadership and Education Advanced Development (ILEAD), jointly interpreted the basic framework and content list for the "Dream Academy" cooperation. Both sides thoroughly explored multi-dimensional development strategies for vocational and higher education, reaching a consensus on the need to adhere to educational model innovation that closely integrates with industry, adapting to the rapidly evolving job market through technological and educational innovation.

This exchange covered key topics including future education planning, university-industry collaboration, international educational exchange, and talent cultivation, directly addressing solutions to enrollment and employment challenges while clarifying directions for enhancing educational quality. Both parties reached a consensus to cultivate future-oriented talent with practical capabilities and innovative competence through establishing business incubators, advancing international education cooperation projects, and exploring new educational models such as the "Dream Academy." This will not only support regional economic development but also deepen the international positioning and technological integration of the education system, injecting strong talent momentum into economic and social development.

This visit has established a solid cooperative bridge between the two institutions. Going forward, Dalian Maple Leaf College of Technology will seize this exchange as an opportunity to absorb and learn from advanced educational practices, continuously advance teaching and educational reforms, and steadily progress along the path of industry-education integration and international cooperation, contributing greater efforts to the high-quality development of vocational education.