On 22 July, the Faculty of Pharmacy of the University of Lisbon (FFUL) hosted a high-level institutional delegation from the Jiangxi University of Chinese Medicine (JxUCM), led by the Chairman of Jiangxi University of Chinese Medicine, Mr. Huang Jiawen. The visit is part of the academic and scientific cooperation uniting both higher education institutions since 2018, aimed at strengthening institutional ties and consolidating their joint research trajectory.
This meeting provided the new leadership of the Chinese university with an in-depth overview of the evolution and practical impacts of this strategic alliance. During the visit, particular emphasis was placed on the China-Portugal International Joint Laboratory on Herbal Medicines, a joint scientific facility dedicated to research excellence, advanced training, and innovation in the field of herbal medicines and natural products with therapeutic potential.
The welcoming session opened with remarks by the Dean of FFUL, Graça Soveral, who provided the institutional and scientific context of the Faculty. This was followed by a presentation by Hugo Abelho, representing the Academic Area, Erasmus+, and Postgraduate Studies, focused on the institution’s internationalisation indicators. In his address, he highlighted the sustained growth of the international student body and the significant increase in the presence of Chinese students across various degree cycles in recent years.
In turn, Olga Silva, Director of the China-Portugal International Joint Laboratory on Herbal Medicines, presented an overview of the key outcomes and milestones achieved through this inter-institutional partnership. Since the formalisation of the initial agreement in 2018, cooperation has developed in a progressive and structured manner, culminating in the establishment of the laboratory platform, the promotion of collaborative research projects, the organisation of international scientific symposia, and the enhancement of faculty, researcher, and student mobility.
Among the most significant achievements in education and advanced training are the two editions of the postgraduate Advanced Course on Herbal Medicines, delivered at FFUL for JxUCM students, alongside the two editions of the Advanced Course on Traditional Chinese Herbal Medicines, designed for FFUL students. These initiatives have played a pivotal role in fostering bilateral academic mobility, facilitating the reception of Chinese students at FFUL while offering students from the Portuguese institution valuable opportunities for immersive scientific and educational experiences in China.
At the conclusion of the meeting, representatives from both institutions reaffirmed their steadfast commitment to continuing and deepening a strategic alliance that consistently demonstrates highly meritorious outcomes across teaching, scientific research, and knowledge transfer.
