Recently, Professor Zang Fengyu, Dean of the School of Philosophy, Renmin University of China, Yao Xinzhong, the Wu Yuzhang Senior Chair Professor, Associate Professor Yuan Li, Deputy Dean of the School of Philosophy, and Associate Professor Wang Xiaowei, Director of the PPE Program, visited Hertford College and Exeter College of University of Oxford, the Department of Philosophy, Psychology and Linguistic Sciences at the University of Edinburgh, and the Department of Philosophy, Theology and Religion at the University of Birmingham, and participated in the “China-British Philosophy Mutual Recognition Workshop”. The aim of the workshop is to strengthen the in-depth cooperation with the philosophy department of British universities, promote the full-English Master's program in Chinese Philosophy at Renmin University of China, facilitate international exchanges for PPE students, and explore new paths for joint teaching and research with the philosophy departments of British universities.

On the morning of April 29, Dean Zang Fengyu and his delegation arrived at the University of Oxford and met with Professor Tom Fletcher, Dean of Hertford College, University of Oxford, and Josephine Reynell, Director of PPE Program. Both sides introduced the development vision and implementation status of the PPE program, and engaged in thorough discussion on the exchange program for PPE students from Renmin University of China to the UK. A consensus was reached to renew the PPE professional exchange agreement, expressing a mutual aspiration to provide a more stable and long-term development space for future cooperation and exchanges.

In the afternoon of the same day, Dean Zang Fengyu and his delegation held a symposium with Professor Rick Trainor, Dean of Exeter College, University of Oxford.They conducted in-depth exchanges on the future cooperation in teaching and research in the field of philosophy between the two sides, and preliminarily identified the potential areas of cooperation.

On the evening of April 30, a delegation of teachers from the School of Philosophy arrived in Edinburgh, and on May 1, a workshop on China-British Philosophy Mutual Enlightenment was held with the School of Philosophy of the University of Edinburgh. In the workshop, Dean Zang Fengyu introduced the academic tradition, theoretical advantages and scientific research achievements of the School of Philosophy of Renmin University of China, pointing out that philosophical research should have a cross-cultural comparative vision and should effectively reflect the spirit of the times. Professor Yao Xinzhong made a detailed introduction on the research of ethics in China, and had an in-depth discussion with British scholars on the development of ethics, talent cultivation and discipline construction. Deputy Dean Yuan Li shared her experience on the construction of undergraduate philosophy program. Associate Professor Wang Xiaowei made a relevant introduction on the history, curriculum design and cultivation program of the PPE program of Renmin University of China.

Professor Michael Chobin of the Department of Philosophy at the University of Edinburgh elaborated on the faculty and research priorities in philosophy at the University of Edinburgh, pointing out that the philosophy of emotion is a new area of research. He specifically introduced the research on the “philosophy of grief”. Takeshi Morisato, Professor of Eastern Philosophy at the University of Edinburgh, introduced the development of Eastern Philosophy at the University of Edinburgh. He pointed out that in recent years, the University of Edinburgh has begun to gradually emphasize the education of non-Western philosophies, among which Buddhist philosophy, Confucianism, and Japanese philosophy have been enthusiastic welcomed. several Chinese PhD students studying at the University of Edinburgh shared their challenges and experiences they encountered in their studies. Both sides exchanged views on philosophy education in two different cultural contexts.

After the workshop, Dean Zang and his delegation held a discussion with Professor Michael Gill,the Head of the Department of Philosophy at the University of Edinburgh, to explore the possibility of future cooperation. Professor Michael Gill, who specializes in the study of the Scottish Enlightenment, presented Professor Zang with his new book on the subject and showed great interest in the full English Master's program in Chinese Philosophy at Renmin University of China. Dean Zang Fengyu provided a detailed introduction the research of Chinese scholars on the Scottish Enlightenment and its relationship with the academic thought of Marxist Philosophy, as well as the unique features of Renmin University of China's Chinese Philosophy Full English Master's Degree Program and the PPE Program, and presented the book “The Annual Rings of Our Philosophy” to Professor Michael Gill. Both sides look forward to further cooperation to promote China-British philosophical exchanges and development.

On the evening of May 2, a delegation of teachers from the School of Philosophy arrived in Birmingham. On the 3rd, in-depth exchanges were held with the head of the School of Philosophy, Theology and Religion of the University of Birmingham. During the meeting, the two sides had extensive discussions on the curriculum of the philosophy program, faculty strength, training programs, teaching mode and the direction of future cooperation. Participating in the exchange were Professor Jon Frampton, Deputy Vice-Chancellor of the University of Birmingham China, Professor David Cheetham, Dean of the Faculty of Philosophy, Theology and Religion, Professor Wolfgang Vondey, Head of the Department of Theology and Religion, and Professor Michael Rush, Head of the Department of Philosophy. Professor Michael Rush, Head of Philosophy, Professor Nicolas Adams, and many other scholars.

The themes of philosophy education at the University of Birmingham include Philosophy and Psychology, Philosophy of Human Rights, Global Justice, Social Justice, Bioethics, Philosophy of Climate, Ethics of Sustainable Development, etc. The University is committed to promoting interdisciplinary cross-research, with special attention paid to the intersection of science and philosophy. Dean Zang Fengyu introduced an overview of the teaching and research of the School of Philosophy on Marxist Philosophy, Chinese Philosophy, Foreign Philosophy, Ethics, Religion, Philosophy of Science and Technology, Logic, Aesthetics, Political Philosophy, and Philosophy of Management, as well as Chinese scholars' research on the Birmingham School of Cultural Marxism. Meanwhile, the Deputy Dean Yuan Li introduced the PPE program and the full-English Master's degree program in Chinese Philosophy. Philosophy scholars from the University of Birmingham expressed their desire for further cooperation with the School of Philosophy. The two sides drew up a cooperation framework agreement, which lays a solid foundation for future cooperation between the two sides and opens a new chapter in the cooperation between the two universities in philosophy professional education.

The visit of the delegation of the teachers from the School of Philosophy to the Philosophy Departments of three universities in the UK — the University of Oxford, the University of Edinburgh, and the University of Birmingham—has further strengthened the cooperative relationship with these institutions, explored more channels of cooperation and ways of cooperation, and reached a lot of consensus, which is a solid step forward for the enhancement of the international exchanges of the School of Philosophy.