On July 6, 2026, a delegation comprising Professor Chen Hui (Head of the Department of Psychology and Behavioral Sciences, Zhejiang University), Professor Shen Mowei, and Professor Gao Zaifeng visited Australia, successively touring the School of Psychology at the University of New South Wales (UNSW) and the School of Psychology at the University of Sydney.
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At UNSW, the delegation held meetings and exchanges with Professor Peter Lovibond (former Dean of the Faculty of Science, UNSW), Professor Ben Newell (former Deputy Dean), Professor Thomas J. Whitford, and representatives from the UNSW Global Affairs Office. During the talks, Professor Chen Hui provided a comprehensive overview of the Department's disciplinary development, talent cultivation, research strengths, and international collaboration strategies. He reviewed the existing cooperative foundation in academic exchanges and personnel training between the two sides and expressed a strong willingness to deepen and broaden all-round cooperation with the UNSW School of Psychology.
The UNSW School of Psychology and the Global Affairs Office responded positively to the internationalisation strategy and collaborative vision of the Zhejiang University Department of Psychology. Professors Lovibond, Newell, and Whitford introduced the mechanisms and resources available at UNSW for promoting international collaborative projects at both the university and faculty levels. They further elaborated on the implementable pathways for specific initiatives, including joint grant applications, institutionalisation of student exchange programmes, and summer school collaborations. The two sides engaged in substantive and in‑depth discussions on these cooperation areas, reaching broad consensus on deepening all-round collaboration.
During the meeting, the two sides exchanged commemorative gifts and took group photographs, further strengthening mutual friendship and creating a favourable atmosphere for the smooth advancement of future cooperation.
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The delegation also visited the University of Sydney, where they were warmly received by Professor Evan Livesey (Head of the School of Psychology) and Professor Frans Verstraten (former Head). At the symposium, Professor Chen Hui presented the Department's educational history, disciplinary characteristics, faculty profile, and talent cultivation outcomes on behalf of the Zhejiang University Department of Psychology. He highlighted the Department's research layout and platform construction in areas such as cognitive and brain sciences, AI psychology, and health psychology. He also provided a detailed update on the progress of ongoing collaborative projects between the two sides, and underscored the critical role of international exchange and cooperation in disciplinary development and the growth of early-career researchers and students.
Professor Frans Verstraten introduced the research directions and faculty composition of the University of Sydney School of Psychology. The two parties engaged in extensive discussions on potential collaboration areas, including joint research funding, dual-degree doctoral training, academic symposiums, and international summer schools, reaching preliminary consensus on multiple fronts.
Following the symposium, the delegation visited the experimental platforms of the University of Sydney School of Psychology. The two sides exchanged culturally distinctive souvenirs and posed for group photographs, jointly expressing their shared aspirations for future collaboration.
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During this visit to Australia, the Zhejiang University Department of Psychology delegation systematically showcased the Department's educational achievements and development plans to two top-tier universities—the University of Sydney and UNSW—thereby deepening bilateral communication and consolidating cooperative ties. The two sides held consultations on research synergy and joint talent cultivation, reaching multiple preliminary cooperation intentions, which have laid a solid foundation for subsequent in-depth and substantive collaboration. In the future, the Department of Psychology and Behavioral Sciences at Zhejiang University will continue to implement its internationalisation strategy, persistently expanding its network of high-level global partners, and empowering both the connotative development of its disciplines and the cultivation of top-notch innovative talents.
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Reported by Wang Yuan
Edited by Zhou Wei
Reviewed by Kong Xiangzhen and Chen Hui
Final Approval by Chen Miaofeng
