On the evening of January 7, 2026, an online meeting was held between the SFS at XJTU and the School of Social Sciences at Lancaster University (LU) to discuss the established collaboration on the joint education program. The meeting was chaired by Chen Xiangjing, Dean of SFS. Participants included Luke Harding, Head of the Department of Linguistics and English Language at LU, and Vaclav Brezina, Deputy Head of the Department of Linguistics and English Language at LU, as well as Li Ying, Vice Dean of SFS, and Peng Fengling, Head of the Department of English at SFS, together with other staff members.

During the meeting, the two sides discussed curriculum development, student training systems, faculty development, program governance, tuition policies, and implementation timelines of the program. They reached consensus on adopting a "3+1" joint education model, as well as on mechanisms for credit recognition and degree conferral.

In terms of curriculum, the program will take advantage of the high-quality academic resources of XJTU and LU to cultivate well-rounded talents with a strong sense of national identity and a global perspective.

For faculty development, a mutual faculty exchange mechanism will be established to form a joint teaching team, promoting teaching exchanges, research collaboration, and the sharing of high-quality educational resources and academic platforms.

On program governance and administration, the two sides will set up a joint management committee in accordance with the Regulations of the People's Republic of China on Chinese-Foreign Cooperation in Running Schools, clarifying responsibilities and establishing regular communication and quality monitoring mechanisms to ensure standardized operation.

At the conclusion of the meeting, the two sides further discussed the implementation timeline of the program. They agreed to complete the internal pre-review and document submission as soon as possible in accordance with the application procedures for Chinese-foreign joint education programs formulated by the Ministry of Education of China. The two sides also planned to launch enrollment preparation in 2026 to ensure the steady implementation of the program.

This meeting marks a significant step forward in the joint education program between the two universities. Chen Xiangjing and Luke Harding both highlighted that the partnership will bring together the two sides' strengths in language education and intercultural communication, creating richer learning opportunities and a more globally connected academic environment for students. Looking ahead, both universities will advance preparations in line with the consensus reached, focusing on innovation and student development to build a high-quality joint program that supports the advancement of higher education and strengthens educational and cultural ties between China and the UK.