International Visitors at SERC

SERC recently hosted visitors from the Chinese Consul in Northern Ireland and representatives from Zhongyuan University of Technology in China.

Consul General Li Nan was welcomed to SERC’s Bangor Campus by Heather McKee, Deputy Principal Planning, Performance and Engagement, before touring the College’s specialist teaching facilities and the opportunity to meet with students and staff.

Providing an overview of the College’s history, Heather said, “SERC has enjoyed collaborations with several international institutions over the years.   This work has included faculty training, student exchanges, and joint teaching and research. We are delighted to develop our relationship with Zhongyuan University of Technology.  The College is committed to strengthening exchanges and cooperation with China and we look forward to collaborative initiatives in the future.”

Consul General Li commended SERC for its active engagement with China, highlighting that educational exchanges and cooperation are an important component of China-UK/Northern Irish relations. He reaffirmed China’s support for vocational education institutions in both regions to establish sustainable partnerships, jointly develop curricula, and collaborate on vocational education and skills training.

Mr Tang Qilin, Dean of School of International Education at Zhongyuan University of Technology and SERC’s Noel O’Hare, Head of Quality, Excellence & Development, signed a Memorandum of Understanding cementing Zhongyuan University of Technology and SERC’s commitment to building a mutually beneficial collaboration between each institution. 

The first project will see up to fifteen students from China visit Northern Ireland in August 2025, to participate in a summer programme which will incorporate English language teaching and cultural and leisure activities. It is intended that SERC will send a delegation to China to further strengthen the partnership and reaffirm the College’s commitment to collaborating with Chinese educational institutes.

Main picture above: (L- R) SERC’s Elaine McKeown, Senior International Development Manager; Catherine Anderson, Principal Lecturer; Andrew McGarry, International Development Manager; Noel O’Hare, Head of Quality, Excellence and Development with Mr Li Nan, Consul General;  Mr Wang Xiaotong, Director of Bilateral Relations and  Mr Tang Qilin, Dean of School of International Education, Zhongyuan University of Technology; and Heather McKee,  Deputy Principal Planning, Performance and Engagement, SERC.