Cal State LA has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with Binzhou Medical University (BMU) in China to promote international academic collaboration and foster educational exchange between the two institutions.

The agreement was signed on Tuesday, April 15, by Cal State LA President Berenecea Johnson Eanes and BMU President Fei Huang, marking the beginning of a strategic partnership designed to explore a range of cooperative educational opportunities.

This partnership reflects Cal State LA’s commitment to global engagement and academic excellence.

“I am happy to host you, President Huang, and the Binzhou Medical University delegates here at Cal State LA for the first MOU signing in my presidency,” said Eanes during the event. “Establishing international partnerships—like with Binzhou Medica University—is vital for Cal State LA to prepare its students to thrive in a globally connected world, fostering cross-cultural understanding, academic collaboration, and the development of socially responsible global citizens.”

The MOU outlines a framework for cooperation between Cal State LA and BMU. Key areas of collaboration include faculty and staff exchanges, joint teaching initiatives, student-centered programs such as exchange opportunities, credit transfer, and cultural camps, as well as the development of undergraduate programs approved by China’s Ministry of Education.

The agreement will remain in effect for a period of three years, with additional joint programs to be developed through mutual consultation.

“As institutions rooted in different cultural and educational traditions, we also see this partnership with BMU as a meaningful opportunity to deepen our mutual understanding—to learn from each other, to celebrate our differences, and to build common ground that benefits our academic communities and the broader world we serve,” said Harkmore Lee, associate vice president for International Programs and dean of the College of Professional and Global Education, who provided opening remarks during the ceremony.”

Following the signing ceremony, the two university presidents and their leadership teams exchanged commemorative gifts in recognition of the newly formed partnership.

Guests then gathered for a celebratory brunch, which opened with engaging discussions highlighting each university’s strengths and exploring opportunities for future collaboration.

The program continued with presentations of a Binzhou Medical University institutional video and a Cal State LA video showcasing international student life and the university’s health-related programs.

The visit then proceeded with a guided campus tour led by AVP/Dean Lee and culminated at the state-of-the-art Patricia A. Chin School of Nursing Simulation Lab. There, the BMU delegation had the opportunity to learn about the hands-on learning experience available to nursing students at Cal State LA.

Cal State LA’s nursing program, housed within the Rongxiang Xu College of Health and Human Services, is ranked by U.S. News & World Report as one of the top nursing programs in the nation, according to College Dean Ron Vogel.

In addition to President Huang, the BMU delegates in attendance were Director Jianghua Bao in the Department of Cooperation and Development, Administrative Dean Fangmin Chen in the School of Nursing, Vice Dean and Professor Yuesi Wang in the School of Pharmacy, and Chief Yan Wang in the International Office’s Cooperation Management Section.

Located in China’s Shandong Province, BMU is a university of applied sciences with a strong emphasis on healthcare and international cooperation.

This partnership supports Cal State LA’s role as a regional leader in higher education and a gateway for international collaboration in healthcare and beyond. The university will continue to explore new international academic partnerships in other regions of the world, especially in Latin America and Africa.

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California State University, Los Angeles is the premier comprehensive public university in the heart of Los Angeles. Cal State LA is ranked number one in the United States for the upward mobility of its students. Cal State LA is dedicated to engagement, service, and the public good, offering nationally recognized programs in science, the arts, business, criminal justice, engineering, nursing, education, and the humanities. Founded in 1947, the University serves more than 24,000 students and has more than 250,000 distinguished alumni.