The “University of Salamanca Day” brought together scholars and officials from China and Spain at Tsinghua University on March 12, marking a significant step in bilateral higher education cooperation. Tsinghua's School of Journalism and Communication hosted a delegation from the University of Salamanca, Spain's oldest institution of higher education, led by Rector Juan Manuel Corchado.

The event aimed to deepen Sino-Spanish academic exchanges and foster interdisciplinary collaboration through keynote dialogues, seminars, and cultural exchanges. Representatives from the Spanish Ministry of Education, the Spanish Ministry of Science and Technology, the China Public Relations Association, and the China Education Association for International Exchange joined faculty and students from multiple Tsinghua departments.

During the opening ceremony, Rector Corchado expressed gratitude for the longstanding support and cooperation from the School of Journalism and Communication, emphasizing that the event marks a new path for the University of Salamanca in educational, cultural, and research collaboration in China. Dean Qing'an Zhou of Tsinghua's School of Journalism and Communication welcomed the guests, noting that both universities share a profound commitment to mutual learning despite their geographical distance.

Professor Corchado, Rector of the University of Salamanca

Professor Qing’an Zhou, Dean of the School of Journalism and Communication, Tsinghua University

The event featured a series of academic and cultural exchanges that highlighted the deepening ties between the two institutions. In his featured presentation “The University of Salamanca: A Beacon of Knowledge in the Western World and Its Connection with Chinese Civilization” Vice-Rector for International Relations Raúl Sánchez explored the University of Salamanca’s role in European academic history and its humanistic ties with China. A  keynote dialogue, “Knowledge, Power, and Global Responsibility: AI and Communication,” followed, bringing together Rector Corchado; Professor Félix Ortega, Director of the Audiovisual Communication Department; and Tsinghua scholars Associate Professor Kuang Kai, Assistant Professor Zou Wenxue, and Professor Dong Guanpeng, Vice President of the China Public Relations Association.

Main Dialogue Session

A departmental seminar “Responsible Innovation Ecosystems: Sino-Spanish Synergies for Sustainable Global Leadership” brought together representatives from five Tsinghua schools, including School of Journalism and Communication, with Spanish delegates to discuss potential areas of joint research and academic exchange.

The event also celebrated the launch of Spain and China: Two Cultures Connected Under the Same Sky, co-authored by scholars from both nations, exploring historical and cultural connections between the two countries. Together with co-author Alberto Martín, scholars from both universities reflected on how academic traditions can fuse and enrich one another across civilizations, bringing the day's events to a fitting close.

The day concluded with a student cultural exchange, where Spanish and Chinese students actively shared their experiences regarding studying abroad, language learning, and cultural adaptation. Ovido Hórreo Tuero, Technical Advisor at the Spanish Embassy’s Education Office, provided updates on student mobility between the two nations.

Student Cultural Exchange Session

The two universities signed a memorandum of understanding in October 2025, making the “University of Salamanca Day” at Tsinghua the first in-person exchange since then. Professor Shi Anbin, Party Secretary of the School, announced in his closing remarks the plans for a reciprocal “Tsinghua University Day” in Salamanca to further promote academic cooperation.

Group Photo of Representatives from the University of Salamanca and the School of Journalism and Communication