The University of Alicante (UA) and Lishui University, located in the Zhejiang province of China, formalised a memorandum of understanding (MOU) on 13 October to strengthen their institutional relationships and promote joint initiatives in education, research, academic mobility, and cultural exchange.
Approved by the UA's Governing Council on 25 September, the agreement marks a significant step in the collaboration between the two universities, which are currently exploring opportunities for student and faculty exchanges, as well as the development of potential dual degree programmes.
In this initial phase, both institutions are assessing the feasibility of establishing dual degrees in six programmes offered by the UA's School of Engineering: Bachelor’s degrees in Artificial Intelligence, Computer Engineering, Robotics, and Multimedia Engineering, alongside Master’s degrees in Automation and Robotics and Chemical Engineering.
The signing of the agreement continues the institutional contacts initiated months earlier and reinforces the University of Alicante's commitment to internationalisation and cooperation with higher education institutions worldwide.
This relationship began during a visit by a UA delegation to various universities in the Zhejiang and Shanghai provinces from 22 to 27 March. The delegation, led by Rosa María Martínez Espinosa, Vice-Rector for International Relations and Development Cooperation, included representatives from the School of Engineering, the Faculty of Sciences, and the Centre for Continuing Education. During this trip, several institutional contacts were established, including with Wenzhou University.
During the visit to Wenzhou University, the delegation was welcomed by Wang Shun, then Vice-President of the university, who later became the Rector of Lishui University. This appointment facilitated the continuation of discussions initiated with the University of Alicante and expanded the possibilities for cooperation between the two institutions.
Later, in late June, Josué Antonio Nescolarde Selva, Director of the School of Engineering, and José Luis Ramón Carretero, a professor in the Master's programme in Automation and Robotics, travelled to China to seek collaborative agreements with universities in Zhejiang and Shanghai. During this visit, Wang Shun invited them to Lishui University, marking the beginning of the collaboration that has developed since.
The evolution of these contacts has enabled the identification of specific areas of work, primarily focusing on the study of potential dual degrees and establishing mobility programmes for students and faculty. The signing of the MOU now formalises this framework of cooperation and lays the groundwork for advancing future joint initiatives.
Lishui University is a public higher education institution located in the city of Lishui, Zhejiang province, a region in southeastern China known for its natural wealth and sustainable development policies. The university's history dates back to 1907, although it gained its current status in 2004. Its academic offerings span education, engineering, sciences, economics, medicine, and humanities, combining university education with research and knowledge transfer. Regionally, the university has been designated a pilot demonstration institution for application-oriented development in Zhejiang province, a distinction that reinforces its connection with the productive sector and the development needs of its surroundings.
