On the afternoon of March 28, 2025, Professor Barry J. Marshall, Brand Ambassador of the University of Western Australia (UWA), Assistant Professor Chin Yen Tay, Head of the Marshall Centre for Research and Training in Infectious Diseases at UWA, and Ms. Ching Lan Ng, head of the UniLink Programme at UWA, visited Shenzhen University (SZU). The delegation received a warm welcome from Professor Xingzhi Xu, Executive Dean of SZU Medical School, Ms. Sa Zeng, Vice Director of the SZU International Office, and Professor Peng Huang, Vice Dean of SZU Medical School, during a meeting held in Conference Room 911 of the A6 building on the Lihu campus.

During the meeting, Professor Xingzhi Xu gave a brief overview of Shenzhen’s development, the young city that is regarded as China’s first Special Economic Zone and a key city in the Guangdong–Hong Kong–Macau Greater Bay Area. He also expressed strong interest in expanding cooperation with UWA.

Ms. Ching Lan Ng introduced UWA and the Micro-Credentials+ program organized by the Marshall Centre, expressing hope for future faculty and student exchanges between the two universities.

In-depth discussions on potential joint projects. From left to right: Barry J. Marshall, Xingzhi Xu, and Sa Zeng.

Professor Barry J. Marshall noted that in 2024, a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) was signed between UWA and SZU, establishing a long-term and stable cooperative relationship. Ms. Sa Zeng highlighted that the two universities have maintained a partnership since 2016, with collaboration in the fields of humanities, business, and law.

Looking ahead, both parties expressed a desire to initiate joint research projects and mobility programs in biomedical engineering and other areas, aiming to leverage their respective strengths and jointly promote mutual development.

SZU and UWA also held in-depth discussions on facilitating applications for the application of a “Medical Talent Program” supported by the China Scholarship Council, as well as on developing semester-long exchange programs.

Founded in 1911 as Western Australia’s first university and officially opened in 1913 with just 184 students, UWA was established with a mission to “advance the prosperity and welfare of our communities.” Today, UWA enrolls over 28,000 students from 115 countries. In the QS World University Rankings by Subject 2025, UWA maintained its position as the top-ranked university in Western Australia, with the most subjects ranked in the global top 100. The Shanghai Ranking Global Ranking of Academic Subjects (GRAS) also consistently places UWA among the leading global institutions in key fields, highlighting its strength in research, innovation, and teaching.