Upon invitation, Mr. Daniel Zheng, Managing Director and Ms. Alice Zhang, International Partnership Manager from HOPE attended Loughborough University China Partner Retreat 2025 in Sanya, Hainan from 17th to 18th Nov.

As sports related programme has been ranking world No. 1 in QS for 9 years, beach sports such as bowling with “coconut” ball, Frisbee game were used as warming up and ice breaking for the event so that everyone can feel Loughborough’s sports spirit. Sand painting was another way to have a taste of Loughborough’s renown programme - Arts and Design.

The hot moment was certainly the group discussion on Loughborough’s advantages and promotion methods.

During the meeting session, Professor Sam Grogan, Pro Vice-Chancellor (Education and Student Experience) of Loughborough University addressed a speech themed with Delivering differentiation: an exceptional education and student experience in a disrupted landscape. We the audience, were assured of Loughborough’s passion, confidence and dedication in helping students grow in the changing world.

Later, Mr. Daniel Zheng, Managing Director of HOPE International Education, was invited to be the representative of China agents to give a speech themed with Market trend and time for change and innovation. Daniel pointed out that China market has changed after Covid, due to comprehensive reasons, such as safety and international politics, Economic downwards and tuition fee increase, difficulty on job market, and government policy. Some Asian countries/regions thrives to meet the market demand and TNE is getting more pupular. UK has also been facing more new rivals, such as HK and Malaysia. Lower birth rate also means a shrinking market.

To cope with the situation, Daniel suggested institutions need to change and set up long term and sustainable strategy, for example, build more teaching partnership programmes with Chinese universities, improve service, more scholarship but should use it wisely, working with industry to provide more solid career service, develop new products such as for 50+. He also gave advice to agents to diversify businesses in terms of developing products, innovative marketing and promotion events, and build a healthy and sustainable agent-institution relations.

At the event, HOPE was awarded A Highly Valued Partner of The University.