On May 25, leaders from Chinese Excellence 9 and the six member universities of the Russell Group, signed an alliance memorandum of cooperation to establish UK-China University Consortium for Engineering Education and Research. The Union Steering Committee meeting was held at the same time.

The UK-China University Consortium on Engineering Education and Research is comprised of Excellence Nine (E9) of China, and the six members of the Russell Group, including Queen’s University Belfast, the University of Birmingham, Cardiff University, University College London, the University of Nottingham and the University of Warwick. It is aimed at enhancing the cooperation in education and scientific research between Chinese and British universities. Tianjin University has established a close relationship with British colleges in the union, and has expanded in-depth cooperation in the research fields of machinery and energy. Last year, along with Queen’s University Belfast, a key project was developed with the support of National Natural Science Fund and a cooperative research center was built.