On the afternoon of 16 July 2026, Professor John Williams from the School of Education at Curtin University, Australia, and Ms. Jia Xu visited the UNESCO Chair in Entrepreneurial Education at Zhejiang University. Professor Xiaozhou Xu, UNESCO Chairholder in Entrepreneurial Education at Zhejiang University, welcomed the delegation and engaged in discussions on future collaboration in entrepreneurship education and academic exchange.

Professor Xiaozhou Xu presents a Chinese intangible cultural heritage artwork to Professor John Williams

 Professor Xiaozhou Xu presents an English academic monograph to Ms. Jia Xu

During the meeting, Professor Xu Xiaozhou reviewed collaborations between Zhejiang University and leading Australian universities, including the University of Western Australia and the University of Sydney. He also highlighted the major achievements of the UNESCO Chair in Entrepreneurial Education at Zhejiang University since its establishment in 2010, particularly in the areas of scientific research, talent development, academic exchange, and international cooperation.

Professor Xu emphasized that, since China’s reform and opening-up, successive generations of entrepreneurs have played a significant role in driving economic and social development amid continuous industrial transformation. In response to the evolving demands of society and the economy, entrepreneurship education has become an essential component of higher education in China and has made important contributions to cultivating innovative talents.

Entering the era of artificial intelligence (AI), innovation and entrepreneurship education are facing new missions and challenges. Professor Xu noted that the philosophy, curricula, and pedagogy of entrepreneurship education need to undergo comprehensive transformation in order to cultivate high-quality entrepreneurs equipped with the capabilities required for modern development.

Professor John Williams acknowledged that AI technologies are generating profound changes across industries and highlighted that entrepreneurship education should actively embrace the opportunities brought by technological advancement and accelerate the integration of AI with entrepreneurship education.

Through in-depth discussions, both sides reached a consensus on further strengthening academic collaboration, promoting knowledge exchange, and exploring new opportunities for international cooperation in entrepreneurship education.