On September 20, Mr. Leonz Eder, President of the International University Sports Federation (FISU), visited Dalian University. The delegation was received by Ms. Sun Meiyan, Deputy Secretary-General of the Dalian Municipal Government, along with Li Qing and Xia Yang, members of the Standing Committee of the CPC Dalian University Committee and Vice Presidents of the university. Senior representatives from relevant university departments also attended the meeting.
Prior to the meeting, Mr. Eder and his delegation toured the Dalian University Red Gene Theme Pavilion and the Intangible Cultural Heritage Experience Center. They engaged with students at the Small Ball Sports Development Center and observed the training session of the university’s football team.
On behalf of the university, Li Qing extended a warm welcome to President Eder and expressed gratitude to the municipal government and distinguished guests for their longstanding support. She highlighted that Dalian University, a comprehensive institution named after the city and closely aligned with regional development, comprises 26 schools covering 11 major academic disciplines and operates three Grade A Tertiary Affiliated Hospital. With sports serving as a key pillar of its holistic education approach, the university has achieved remarkable results in domestic and international competitions through its football and table tennis teams. In line with national strategies such as the revitalization of Northeast China and coordinated development of the Bohai Rim region, the university remains committed to open international collaboration. This agreement marks the beginning of a new chapter, with joint initiatives in research, healthy campus development, and participation in competitions aimed at advancing sports science innovation and talent development.
Mr. Eder thanked Dalian University for its hospitality and praised the campus environment and achievements in sports education. He noted that FISU, a comprehensive university sports organization with 165 member countries, maintains close partnerships with 65 international organizations, including the International Olympic Committee and UNESCO. Its flagship activities include the FISU World University Games, World University Championships, and FISU University World Cup Football. FISU is dedicated to promoting healthy lifestyles among university students worldwide, with its “Healthy Campus” project already implemented in nearly 200 universities. Emphasizing the integration of sports and education, FISU aims to foster students’ overall development through sports and is planning to launch a master’s program leveraging global event resources for practical training in sports and education.
During the meeting, the two parties signed a memorandum of understanding. Under the agreement, they will collaborate on academic research in sports, promote innovation in sports science and physical education, develop a health and wellness system for students and faculty under the “Healthy Campus” initiative, facilitate participation in FISU events and academic conferences, and establish international exchange platforms. The partnership will also focus on advancing sports research to deliver exemplary outcomes in the integration of sports and education.
This cooperation will empower Dalian University to further integrate into the global higher education and sports network, enhancing the international influence of its academic disciplines and the quality of talent cultivation. The university will seize this opportunity to work closely with FISU in exploring new approaches to sports-education integration and healthy campus development, setting a model for mutually beneficial university partnerships.
29 Sep
