Zhejiang University and the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign jointly unveil an institute in Haining March 4. [Photo by Lu Shaoqing/Zhejiang University]

Zhejiang University (ZJU) is striving to increase its international development by joining hands with top global universities in launching and operating research programs.

The renowned Chinese university in East China's Zhejiang province signed cooperation agreements with the University of Edinburgh and the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign (UIUC) at the Second International Higher Education Forum in its international campus in Haining city March 4.

According to the agreements, ZJU will cooperate with the University of Edinburgh to build a research center on biomedicine and health, and will partner with UIUC in establishing a joint institute. Meanwhile, ZJU and UIUC also signed an agreement on the cultivation of doctoral students.

Over 40 scholars from world-class universities attended the forum and shared their insights into the opening-up and innovation of education resources around the globe.

Over 40 scholars from home and abroad attend the Second International Higher Education Forum in Haining, Zhejiang province, March 4. [Photo by Lu Shaoqing/Zhejiang University]

Wu Zhaohui, president of ZJU, explained the university's international strategy in his speech, saying that globalization is strengthening the interconnection of countries and regions, and has been a major trend in the development of higher education.

"People who are fit for future development must be those capable of understanding different cultures, which raises higher requirements for the education mode," Wu said.

Peter Mathieson, principal of the University of Edinburgh, explained how a university's internationalization is reflected in its students, faculties, research and future vision.

Robert J. Jones, chancellor of UIUC, pointed out that the standards for rating a university were no longer the achievements it had made, but the cooperation mode it would take when facing global challenges. He said he hoped that the collaboration with ZJU would be a huge step in UIUC's pursuit of a better future.