Bournemouth University (BU) welcomed a delegation of eight visitors from Lanzhou University, China, on Monday 14 and Tuesday 15 October. The delegation was hosted by Professor Tom Wainwright, Deputy Head of BU’s Orthopaedic Research Institute (ORI) and a Visiting Professor at Lanzhou University since 2023.

Lanzhou University is based in north west China and has three affiliated hospitals, including the First Hospital of Lanzhou University, where many of the visiting delegation are based. The visitors included Professor Li Xun, the Vice President of Lanzhou University and President of the First Hospital of Lanzhou University along with the Deputy Directors of various departments including Orthopaedics and Health Promotion.

The visitors were first welcomed to ORI, where they were given a tour of the Gait lab, clinical facilities and the virtual reality surgical simulation lab. Following that they met with a range of academics from the Faculty of Health and Social Sciences at the Bournemouth Gateway Building and also the Faculty of Science and Technology on BU’s Talbot Campus, as well as colleagues from University Hospitals Dorset NHS Foundation Trust. Discussions were wide ranging but included exploration of potential future research collaboration across health and science related subjects, as well as opportunities for shared education activities.

Finally, BU’s Professor Keith Phalp, Pro-Vice Chancellor for Education and Quality, met with the delegation, and both sides committed to a longer-term collaboration which will be underpinned by a Memorandum of Agreement. Together the two universities hope that through collaborative research and knowledge exchange, patients’ treatment and recovery both here, in Lanzhou and globally can be improved, helping people to live better, for longer.

Following the visit Professor Wainwright said, “It was fantastic to welcome colleagues from Lanzhou to BU, and to return the hospitality and warm welcome that they gave me on previous visits to Lanzhou. We’ve not only strengthened our existing relationship, but also extended connections across departments here at BU, which will enable us to develop strong collaborations for impactful research and education in the future.”

Vice President Li Xun expressed his gratitude to Bournemouth University for its warm reception. He said, “Lanzhou University and its affiliated hospitals have always been committed to cultivating high-quality talents with international vision and innovative ability, and attach great importance to cooperation and exchanges with high-level universities and institutions around the world. This invitation visit is precisely to enhance mutual understanding, reach consensus, and jointly promote the innovative development of medical education and scientific research, talent cultivation, and the cross-disciplinary integration of new technologies and new concepts.”