Sichuan Tourism University News Network (Correspondent: ZhangYuan)From July 28 to 31, Zhang Xuelong, Party Secretary of Sichuan Tourism University (SCTU), and the head of the Office of International Cooperation and Exchange joined a Sichuan Provincial Education Delegation on an educational exchange visit to Melbourne and Sydney, Australia. They visited Monash University, the Consulate-GeneralofThe People’s Republic of China in Melbourne, Firbank Grammar School, the Victorian Department of Education, Box Hill Institute, St Augustine's College, and Le Cordon Bleu Sydney. They reached a series of consensus on cooperation, including faculty‑student exchanges, joint training programs, overseas educational programs, Sino‑foreign cooperative education, and the global promotion of Chinese culinary culture.

On the afternoon of July 29, the delegation visited Box Hill Institute. Founded in 1924, Box Hill Institute is one of Victoria’s largest and oldest public vocational education institutions. The delegation toured the institute’s culinary and hospitality management training facilities and held discussions with John Qiu, Vice President and Director of International Affairs, among others. They reached an agreement on regular exchange visits between faculty and students in hospitality and culinary programs, as well as the joint development of a distinctive curriculum system integrating Chinese and Western elements. Following the discussion, both parties held a grand unveiling ceremony for the “Sichuan Cuisine Workshop”. Moving forward, they will jointly organize distinctive events such as Sichuan cuisine skill demonstrations, culinary culture forums, and chef exchange programs. Concurrently, they will collaborate with local catering industry associations to establish overseas internship and employment channels, creating a distinctive overseas educational platform that integrates professional instruction, culturaldissemination, and industry services.

On the afternoon of July 30, the delegation visited Le Cordon Bleu Sydney. Founded in 1895 and headquartered in Paris, France, Le Cordon Bleu operates 35 campuses across 20 countries and regions and is one of the world’s most influential culinary and hospitality management schools. The delegation toured the campus and teaching facilities, exchanged views on joint talent development, and reached a tentative cooperation agreement. The delegation subsequently participated in the “Sichuan Cuisine in Australia” exchange event, where SCTU’s culinary master Qiao Xing demonstrated traditional Sichuan cooking techniques—including Mapo Tofu (ma po dou fu), Kung Pao Chicken (gong bao ji ding), and Fish‑Fragrant Shredded Pork(yu xiang rou si)—and engaged in in‑depth interactions with faculty and students from Le Cordon Bleu Sydney.

This visit represented an important initiative for SCTU to expand educational cooperation with Australia. Through in‑depth exchanges with leading institutions such as Box Hill Institute and Le Cordon Bleu Sydney, our university has opened new avenues and taken new strides in overseas educational programs, Sino‑foreign cooperative education, and the global promotion of Chinese culinary culture. It has laid a solid foundation for boosting the university’s global profile in international education and expanding the global influence of its culinary education.