Representatives from Jiangsu and UK universities exchange ideas at the education conference held in Nanjing over March 14 and 15. [Photo/ec.js.edu.cn]

Jiangsu province stepped up educational relations with the UK at a conference to jointly building up world class universities held in Nanjing over March 14 and 15.

The conference received participation from some 80 officials from the Jiangsu Provincial Department of Education, the British Council and 21 renowned Jiangsu and UK universities, including Cambridge, Oxford and Nanjing University.

Wang Chengbin, deputy chief of the Jiangsu Provincial Department of Education, briefed the attendees about educational developments in Jiangsu, especially the proposal issued in 2016 to build more high-level universities in the province.

To achieve the proposal, Wang regards in-depth educational cooperation between Jiangsu and UK a necessity to open up talent exchange programs, carry out scientific research and train academic experts and managerial elites.

Wang emphasized building a more integrated platform for talent cultivation, as well calling for government and enterprise support, especially in the fields of smart manufacturing, health care and environmental engineering.

Representatives from the UK also expressed their aspirations for collaboration, sharing their experience and opinions on training talent and scientific innovation. After the conference, they visited key laboratories at Nanjing University, Southeast University and the Nanjing University of Science and Technology to exchange ideas with students and teachers there.