Recently, Professor Wu Haitao, Dean of the School of Business Administration (SBA) at Zhongnan University of Economics and Law (ZUEL), led a delegation to South Optical Valley · Hi-tech Centre to carry out a special initiative aimed at strengthening partnerships with enterprises and expanding employment opportunities for graduates. During the visit, SBA signed a strategic agreement with South Optical Valley (Hubei) Sci-Tech Innovation Services Co., Ltd. to establish a joint industry–academia–research cooperation base. The initiative seeks to deepen university–enterprise collaboration, facilitate the transformation of research achievements, and align talent development with regional economic priorities. Ms. Zeng Zirong, Director of the SBA Administrative Office, and Associate Professor Wan Hua, Associate Chair of the Department of Business Administration, also participated in the visit.
Accompanied by Mr. Li Xiancai, Chairman of South Optical Valley · Hi-tech Centre, the delegation toured several key innovation platforms, including the Xianning Low-Altitude Economy Science Education Base, the Food Technology Exhibition Hall, the IP-based Innovation and Entrepreneurship Service Center, the “One-Stop” Service Station for Xianning’s High-Quality Food & Beverage Industry, and the Vocational Training School for Innovation and Entrepreneurship. Through in-depth visits and detailed briefings, the delegation gained comprehensive insights into the Science City’s approach to integrating resources and fostering innovation across key sectors.
During a roundtable discussion, Dean Wu introduced SBA’s strengths in talent cultivation, academic development, and social engagement. He emphasized that “the essence of university is enterprise collaboration, lying in resource sharing and co-developing talent,” and expressed the hope of leveraging the MBA program to establish deeper ties in talent recruitment, co-teaching, and applied learning. He also noted that South Optical Valley · Hi-tech Centre plays a vital role in driving innovation and incubation in the region, and that the new partnership would provide enterprises with high-quality support for transforming research into practice.
Chairman Li Xiancai welcomed the delegation and provided an overview of the Hi-tech Centre’s industrial layout, innovation ecosystem, and the characteristics of its resident enterprises. He highlighted the urgent need for intellectual and human capital from universities, citing leading firms such as Tianying Aviation. Li expressed strong interest in collaborating with ZUEL in areas including joint talent development, research initiatives, and practical problem-solving through the new cooperation base.
Following the discussion, the two parties formally signed the Industry–Academia–Research Cooperation Agreement. On behalf of SBA, Dean Wu presented the plaque for the “ZUEL Innovation Practice Base for Industry–Education Integration” to South Optical Valley (Hubei) Sci-Tech Innovation Services Co., Ltd. According to the agreement, both parties will engage in long-term collaboration in student internships and employment, joint research projects, and enterprise consulting, exploring innovative models for coordinated university and enterprise development.
This visit and cooperation agreement exemplify SBA’s commitment to implementing ZUEL’s employment-first strategy and enhancing its contributions to regional economic development. Going forward, SBA will continue to strengthen partnerships with leading enterprises and industrial parks, promoting integration across education, research, and industry to improve talent cultivation and support Hubei’s role in advancing China’s new development paradigm.