Sichuan Tourism University News Network （Correspondent:LiMin, Photographer:ChenMingwang）On the afternoon of 19 March, a delegation headed by Joni Ahonen, Vice President of Business and International Services at Haaga-Helia University of Applied Sciences, paid a visit to Sichuan Tourism University (SCTU). Wang Chuan, Deputy Secretary of the university Party Committee and President of SCTU, hosted the guests for a bilateral cooperation forum held in Room 401, Administration Building, North Campus. Management representatives from the Office of International Cooperation and Exchange, the School of Sports and Leisure, the School of Economics and Management, and the School of Hospitality and Business Management attended the meeting.

President Wang Chuan extended a warm welcome to the visitors and gave an overview of SCTU’s institutional strengths, disciplinary layout and global exchange programs. He stated that SCTU adheres to an open international development strategy aimed at elevating the university’s global standing and maintains ongoing partnerships with high-quality higher education institutions worldwide. Since the two universities signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) in November 2024, joint work between the two sides has made steady progress. Wang laid out three core priorities for deeper future collaboration: to build high-standard joint education platforms and advance coordinated development of academic programs; to establish regular two-way staff and student exchange mechanisms for cultivating globally competitive talent; and to expand joint research and industry-education integration projects to deliver reciprocal benefits for both institutions.

Joni Ahonen shared an introduction to Haaga-Helia University of Applied Sciences, covering its institutional positioning, flagship academic strengths and achievements in internationalisation. He noted that SCTU boasts distinctive competitive advantages, and the two institutions share highly aligned academic focuses which lay a solid foundation for long-term cooperation. He expressed hope that this visit would strengthen communication and coordination to turn planned joint initiatives into tangible deliverables.

During the forum, both sides held detailed discussions covering Sino-foreign joint education programmes, reciprocal staff and student mobility, shared teaching resources and academic exchanges. All parties reached a constructive consensus on broadening cooperation fields, refining implementation mechanisms and boosting the practical impact of joint projects.

Later in the visit, the delegation toured SCTU’s Culinary and Food Experimental Management Center, the School of Sports and Leisure and the School of Hospitality and Business Management. The Finnish delegates spoke highly of SCTU’s unique disciplinary strengths, sound practical teaching systems and well-equipped training facilities.