On the morning of March 23, a delegation from the City Government of Lappeenranta, Finland, and the leadership of Lappeenranta-Lahti University of Technology (LUT University) visited Hebei University of Technology (HEBUT) and attended the agreement renewal signing ceremony for the HEBUT Finland Campus collaboration. HEBUT President Wang Limin and LUT University President Juha-Matti Kalervo Saksa signed the cooperation agreement for the Finland Campus. The signing ceremony was presided over by Vice President Chen Hongyan.
Representatives from the Foreign Affairs Office of the People’s Government of Hebei Province, Hebei Association for International Exchange in Education and Culture, as well as the Counsellor for Education and Science of the Embassy of Finland in China, were invited to attend the event. Also present were heads of relevant university departments, leaders of collaborating faculties, and first-year students of the Finland Campus currently studying in Tianjin.
President Wang Limin extended a warm welcome to the Finnish delegation and distinguished guests. He noted that HEBUT’s 120-year tradition of international education has laid a solid foundation for the Finland Campus. Since the partnership began, both sides have contributed to the campus’s development with professional excellence and a spirit of sincere friendship. Today, with the support of the Chinese and Finnish embassies, local governments, education authorities, and various sectors of society, Finland Campus has grown from "a single seed" into a towering "Finnish red pine." Moving forward, HEBUT will continue to expand cooperation and advance Sino-Finnish educational collaboration toward an even brighter future.
Olli Suominen, Counsellor of Education and Science at the Embassy of Finland in Beijing, reflected on the history of educational cooperation between China and Finland. He emphasized that this partnership, built on equality and mutual trust, has not only facilitated mutual benefits in educational resources and talent development but also promoted collaborative innovation in educational philosophies and teaching methodologies. Finland Campus, he noted, has made significant contributions to fostering a more open, inclusive, and mutually enriching model of international educational cooperation.
Mr. Joonas Hermanni Grönlund, Chair of the City Board, Lappeenranta, highlighted the city’s development, educational history, and the evolution of LUT University. He reviewed the trajectory of Finland’s education system and expressed optimism about future multidisciplinary collaboration between the two universities. By leveraging complementary strengths and resource sharing, he stated, the partnership will set a new benchmark for Sino-Finnish higher education cooperation and contribute wisdom and solutions to global challenges.
President of LUT University Juha-Matti Kalervo Saksa introduced the collaborative history between LUT University and LAB University of Applied Sciences under the LUT Education Group, emphasizing their shared facilities and resources that support HEBUT Finland Campus. He praised the achievements of Finland Campus and attributed its success to the close cooperation between the two institutions. He expressed commitment to further deepening collaboration and implementing more innovative projects in the future.
Turo Kilpeläinen, President of LAB University of Applied Sciences, stated that the LUT Education Group is dedicated to cultivating applied talents with innovative spirit, global vision, and social responsibility. He commended Finland Campus for pioneering a new model of Sino-Finnish higher education collaboration, providing high-quality educational resources for students from both countries, and contributing innovative solutions to global challenges.
Hou Jianguo, Chair of Hebei Association for International Exchange in Education and Culture, remarked that the Finland Campus, as an innovative model of Sino-Finnish educational collaboration, has achieved remarkable results over the past five years. He expressed hope that, with broad support from all sectors of society, this exemplary project will continue to develop, generate replicable experiences, and serve as a vital bridge for fostering mutual understanding and enduring friendship between China and Finland.
The renewal of the cooperation agreement marks a new chapter in the partnership between the two universities, setting a fresh starting point for shared development. In the future, Finland Campus will further facilitate win-win cooperation between China and Finland in education, technology, and cultural exchange, while actively contributing to the advancement of science, technology, and civilization.
Before the signing ceremony, Han Xu, Secretary of the Party Committee of Hebei University of Technology, met with the guests in the VIP room of the Conference Center of Beichen Campus.
Han Xu expressed his warm welcome to the Finnish delegation and guests, and reviewed the fruitful achievements and deepening friendship between the two sides in the past five years. He especially mentioned that during his visit to LUT University, he was deeply impressed by the efficient and advanced management mode of Finland and LUT University, which is worth studying and learning from. Looking ahead, Han Xu expected that in the new cooperation period, both sides will continue to deepen cooperation in the fields of talent cultivation, scientific research and cultural exchanges, and harvest more fruitful results together.