New UK-China Academic Partnership to Drive Collaborative Research and Student Opportunities
Leeds University Business School and the School of Economics at Renmin University of China have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU).
This establishes a new framework for strategic academic collaboration between two internationally recognised institutions.
The partnership builds on the growing relationship between the Department of Economics at Leeds University Business School and the School of Economics at Renmin University of China, creating new opportunities for collaborative research, knowledge exchange, student engagement and academic mobility.
The MoU was signed following the successful 2nd UK-China Conference on Pluralist Economics, hosted by the Department of Economics at Leeds University Business School, which brought together leading scholars from both countries to explore emerging economic challenges, exchange research perspectives and strengthen international academic networks.
Through the agreement, Leeds and Renmin University will work together to develop joint research initiatives, organise academic conferences, seminars and lectures, facilitate staff and student exchanges, and explore opportunities for collaborative publications and future educational activities.
The partnership brings together the complementary strengths of two leading institutions: Leeds University Business School’s internationally recognised expertise across business, management and economics, and Renmin University of China’s School of Economics, one of China’s most respected centres for economics education and research.
By combining expertise across economics, business and public policy, the collaboration aims to support innovative research addressing complex global challenges and create meaningful opportunities for academics and students to engage in a truly international learning environment.
Professor Iain Clacher, Pro-Dean International at Leeds University Business School, who signed the agreement on behalf of the School, said:
“We are delighted to formalise this partnership with the School of Economics at Renmin University of China. International collaboration is central to our mission as a global business school, and this agreement creates exciting opportunities for our academics and students to engage with colleagues who are recognised internationally for their excellence in economics research and education.
We look forward to building a vibrant and impactful partnership that advances knowledge exchange, strengthens academic networks and creates new opportunities for our communities.”
Professor Giuseppe Fontana, Professor of Monetary Economics, who helped facilitate academic engagement through the UK-China Conference on Pluralist Economics, said:
It was a great pleasure to welcome our colleagues from Renmin University of China to Leeds for the 2nd UK-China Conference on Pluralist Economics. Hosted by the Department of Economics at Leeds University Business School, the conference created a vibrant and intellectually stimulating forum for dialogue, exchange and the development of new ideas. Above all, it demonstrated the strength of the connection between our two academic communities and the remarkable potential of what we can achieve together.
The signing of this Memorandum of Understanding marks a decisive moment in the development of that relationship, transforming a shared commitment into the foundation of a deep and enduring institutional partnership. It opens the way for ambitious joint research, innovative collaborative teaching, staff and student exchanges, and a sustained programme of joint conferences and academic initiatives. I very much look forward to working with our colleagues at Renmin to turn this shared vision into a partnership that advances knowledge, enriches both our communities, and leaves a lasting academic legacy.
The partnership reflects both universities’ shared commitment to international engagement and their ambition to generate research with real-world impact. By connecting academic communities across the UK and China, the collaboration will contribute to the development of new knowledge, foster intercultural understanding and equip future graduates with the global perspectives needed in an increasingly interconnected world.
