On October 15, 2025, the inaugural council election of the International Exchange Branch for Applied Universities of the China Education Association for International Exchange and its 2025 Academic Annual Meeting were held at Hefei University. Pu Lijie, Deputy Chair of the University Council, attended the conference on behalf of Nanjing Institute of Technology and delivered a keynote speech.

The event brought together representatives from nearly 140 member institutions nationwide to engage in in-depth discussions on the internationalization of applied higher education in the new era. Following careful deliberation and approval of the work report of the first council, Sun Aiwu, Chair of the University Council of NJIT, was democratically elected by all member institutions as Vice Chair of the second council of the International Exchange Branch for Applied Universities under the China Education Association for International Exchange.

During the academic annual meeting, Pu Lijie was invited to deliver a keynote speech. Under the theme “Empowering the ‘Summit Plan’ for Building a First-Class Applied University through International Cooperation and Exchanges,” he systematically elaborated on the groundbreaking progress the university has achieved in internationalization in recent years. Pu Lijie emphasized that NJIT has consistently regarded internationalization as a key driver of high-quality development. By optimizing its global cooperation network, it has established solid strategic partnerships with numerous world-renowned institutions. NJIT continues to advance high-level Sino-foreign cooperative education programs, vigorously expand education for international students in China, and achieve a strategic leap from “bringing in” to “going global” through initiatives such as the establishment of the Osh Zheng He College in Kyrgyzstan. Additionally, the university has broadened channels for student overseas exchanges, promoted the development of internationalized disciplines and curricula, strengthened the international training of faculty, and deepened international collaboration in scientific research. These efforts have yielded a series of highly visible and influential achievements in international education. The speech, supported by detailed content and vivid examples, comprehensively showcased the pathways and outcomes of the university’s internationalization efforts, earning widespread acclaim and enthusiastic feedback from the attendees.

This conference further strengthened the exchange and mutual learning between NJIT and peer institutions across the country in the field of internationalization. Moving forward, NJIT will deepen its integration into the national system of international exchange and cooperation for applied universities, continuously enrich the substance of its international initiatives, and contribute even more significantly to cultivating globally competitive, high-quality applied talents and serving regional economic development.