Recently, the Ministry of Education officially approved the establishment of Stirling Digital Education College of Hebei Normal University in partnership with the University of Stirling (UK), as well as the undergraduate program in Music Performance in collaboration with Conservatorio statale di musica di Messina “Arcangelo Corelli”, Italia. This approval marks a historic breakthrough in our university’s “Chinese-foreign cooperation in running school”, officially entering a new stage of coordinated development under the model of “College + Programs”.

The Stirling Digital Education College is our university’s first non-independent legal person college in Chinese-foreign cooperation in running school. Focusing on the integrated development of “Artificial Intelligence + Education”, the college relies on multiple national-level scientific research platforms including the Hebei Base of the National Tianyuan Mathematics Center and three national AI-education integration projects such as “5G Smart Education”. Drawing on advanced experience from the UK in AI education, digital education transformation and industry-education integration, it cultivates high-level, international and interdisciplinary talents. The college offers three undergraduate programs: Data Science and Artificial Intelligence, Education Technology, and Mathematics and Artificial Intelligence, adopting a “4+0” dual-degree model. Graduates will receive a graduation certificate from Hebei Normal University and dual bachelor’s degrees from China and the UK.

Founded in 1967, the University of Stirling is a top public research university in Scotland. It hosts one of the UK’s leading faculties of education, with Education ranked 2nd in the UK, Mathematics and Computer Science both ranked top 20 nationally. 95% of its research in Computer Science and Mathematics is rated “World Leading” or “Internationally Excellent”. It has been awarded QS Five-Star overall certification for teaching quality and academic performance.

The Music Performance undergraduate program is our university’s first Chinese-foreign cooperation running school program in the arts, representing another achievement in deepening artistic and cultural exchanges with Europe. The program introduces high-quality Italian artistic resources and international faculty, and builds on our strengths including the National Experimental Zone for Music Education Talent Cultivation and national first-class majors. It targets pop music, the music digital economy and other key fields to cultivate international interdisciplinary artistic talents, adopting a “3.5+0.5” dual-degree model. Graduates will obtain a graduation certificate from Hebei Normal University and dual degrees from China and Italy.

Established in 1938, the Conservatorio statale di musica di Messina “Arcangelo Corelli” is a prestigious public higher music institution with a long history. Its Opera program ranks among the top 50 worldwide, and it offers the only master’s program in Mediterranean Traditional Music Preservation in Europe. The institution maintains long-term cooperation with the Erasmus Programme, the Italian National Symphony Orchestra and other top organizations. Its faculty serve as judges in world-class competitions such as the Busoni International Piano Competition, and have cultivated numerous high-level musical talents and renowned artists.

The approval of both the college and the program is a phased achievement in implementing the deployment of the 9th Party Congress of our university and the “1227” high-quality development strategy. It is also another landmark result of deepening educational opening-up and serving regional development. Going forward, our university will continue to strengthen the quality of Chinese-foreign cooperation in running school, support high-level discipline development and leapfrog growth, enhance talent training quality and international reputation, and contribute Hebei Normal University’s wisdom and strength to upgrading higher education in Hebei Province, boosting regional digital industry development and serving high-level opening-up in education.