Fudan University President Jin Li met with Professor Duncan Ivison, President and Vice-Chancellor of the University of Manchester (UoM), and his delegation on March 18.

Ivison noted that the world today faces numerous challenges in healthcare, artificial intelligence, geopolitics and economy. He stressed that universities have a responsibility to bring together knowledge and resources to address these issues — which is why UoM greatly values its partnerships with institutions around the world, including in China.

Jin welcomed the UoM delegation on behalf of the university. He highlighted the strong research collaboration between the two universities, especially in physics and astronomy, with growing cooperation in medicine, biochemistry, engineering, and computer science. He noted UoM’s global reputation in scientific innovation and expressed Fudan’s interest in expanding partnerships in cutting-edge science and AI-driven research.

The two leaders exchanged views on AI development. Jin outlined Fudan’s “AI for Science” strategy, which uses large language models to accelerate discovery in fields such as physics, life sciences, and medicine. The university now offers over 100 AI courses and has integrated AI literacy into the training of all students, while also engaging in international discussions on AI governance.

Ivison described Manchester as a birthplace of AI — where Alan Turing first proposed the Turing Test. Today, UoM is home to more than 1,000 AI researchers and provides all faculty and students with access to advanced AI tools. Acknowledging the ethical questions AI raises, he expressed hope for deeper research collaboration with Fudan in this transformative field.

Also attending the meeting were UoM Vice-President for International Affairs Angelia Wilson, Fudan Vice President Chen Zhimin, and Fudan Associate Vice President and Graduate School Executive Dean Chen Yan, along with representatives from relevant departments of both institutions.

Following the meeting, Ivison visited the Fudan Art Museum, where he delivered a philosophical lecture titled "Should We Put Injustice First?". During the talk, he reflected on his long-standing connection with Fudan — dating back to his first visit in 2007, when he also lectured on campus.

Cooperation between the two universities has grown steadily over the years. The Fudan College of Foreign Languages and Literature and the Department of Environmental Science and Engineering have both maintained joint student training programs with Manchester for many years. In February last year, Ivison visited Fudan for in-depth talks on joint talent cultivation and research collaboration. A university-level cooperation agreement was formally signed in July. In June and October, delegations from UoM’s Faculty of Humanities and its Faculty of Biology, Medicine and Health visited Fudan for further exchanges with relevant departments.

(END)

Writer: LI Yijie

Editor: WANG Mengqi