Between April 14 and 16, 2025, a delegation from Semmelweis University visited Fujian University of Traditional Chinese Medicine (FJUTCM) to explore opportunities for academic collaborations and the potential establishment of joint colleges in the field of health sciences. The visit was designed to bring together Hungarian and Chinese expertise to launch internationally recognized educational programs in healthcare management, physiotherapy, and rehabilitation.
High-Level Discussions and Institutional Visits
The Semmelweis delegation, represented by Dr. Marcel Pop, Director of International Relations, and Eszter Turopoli, Vice Director, was officially welcomed by Professor Li Candong, President of FJUTCM, and leadership of the university.
The delegation visited the College of Humanities and Management, the College of Pharmacy & Laboratories, the College of Rehabilitation Medicine, the Science and Innovation Center, the College of Integrative Chinese and Western Medicine, and the Research Institute of Integrated Chinese and Western Medicine. A primary goal of the visit was to assess the conditions necessary for establishing joint colleges and to deliberate on the framework of a sustainable partnership. During the meetings, FJUTCM presented its infrastructural, academic, research, and clinical facilities, and extensive discussions were held regarding the human resources at each unit, including the number of academic staff and PhD-qualified instructors. The delegation also visited FJUTCM’s two affiliated hospitals, both integral to Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) education and serving hundreds of patients daily. Following in-depth discussions, representatives from both universities agreed to initiate the collaboration gradually, setting the stage for a long-term academic partnership.
About Fujian University of Traditional Chinese Medicine
Founded in 1958 and located in Fuzhou, the capital of Fujian Province, FJUTCM is a leading institution in the field of Traditional Chinese Medicine. The institution comprises nine departments and three colleges, offering fifteen undergraduate specialties, eighteen Master’s level disciplines, and two doctoral specialties. TCM Orthopedics and Traumatology is among its most renowned disciplines, recognized both nationally and provincially as a key discipline.
FJUTCM operates two directly affiliated hospitals—Fujian People’s Hospital and Fujian Second People’s Hospital—and collaborates with six indirectly affiliated hospitals. The university’s two campuses offer a culturally rich environment, state-of-the-art facilities, and a strong TCM heritage. With over 12,000 full-time students, including more than 1,600 postgraduates, FJUTCM is a hub for both domestic and international academic exchange.
Advancing Global Education and Research
JUTCM plays an active role in national initiatives such as the Double First-Class program to elevate Chinese universities to world-class status, the Belt and Road Initiative for international collaboration, and the Healthy China strategy promoting public health and education.
The collaboration with Semmelweis University supports these objectives and represents a strategic move toward interdisciplinary and internationalized education in the health sciences. The anticipated collaboration also aligns with these national objectives, especially in promoting interdisciplinary integration and fostering international academic cooperation. The planned joint colleges are expected to yield significant mutual benefits, offering high-quality education and facilitating the exchange of knowledge and expertise between Hungary and China.
As both institutions continue to shape their internationalization strategies, the partnership between Semmelweis University and FJUTCM represents a forward-looking model of global academic cooperation. The establishment of joint colleges would not only contribute to educational excellence but also strengthen ties between the European and Chinese higher education sectors in the health sciences.
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