The Ministry of Education has officially approved the establishment of the Stirling Digital Education College (SDEC) at Hebei Normal University, in partnership with the University of Stirling in the United Kingdom. The approval also covers a separate undergraduate Music Performance programme in collaboration with the Conservatorio di Musica "Arcangelo Corelli" di Messina in Italy. This marks a historic breakthrough for the University in Sino-foreign cooperative education, as it enters a new phase of coordinated development through both institution-level and programme-level provision.

SDEC is the University's first Sino-foreign cooperative education institution operating as a non-independent legal entity. The College focuses on the dual integration of artificial intelligence and education, supported by multiple national-level research platforms, including the Hebei Base of the National Tianyuan Mathematics Central China Centre, and three national-level AI and education integration projects such as '5G Smart Education'. Drawing on advanced UK experience in AI education, educational digital transformation and industry-education integration, the College aims to cultivate high-level, international and interdisciplinary talent. It offers three undergraduate programmes: Intelligent Science and Technology, Data Computing and Applications, and Educational Technology, all under a '4+0' dual-degree model. Graduates will receive a graduation certificate from Hebei Normal University and dual bachelor's degrees from both institutions.

The University of Stirling, founded in 1967, is a leading public research university in Scotland. It has one of the top education faculties in the UK, with Education ranked second nationally, and Mathematics and Computer Science both ranked in the top 20. Ninety-five per cent of its research in Computer Science and Mathematics is rated as 'world-leading' or 'internationally excellent'. The University holds a QS Five Star overall rating for teaching quality and academic research.

The Music Performance programme is the University's first Sino-foreign cooperative education programme in the arts, and represents another practical achievement in deepening cultural and artistic exchanges with Europe. The programme draws on high-quality Italian art resources and international faculty, while building on the University's existing strengths in arts education, including its national-level music education talent training innovation experimental zone and national first-class programmes. Targeting key areas such as popular music and the digital transformation of the music industry, the programme cultivates internationally oriented interdisciplinary arts professionals. It adopts a '3.5+0.5' dual-degree model, with graduates receiving a Hebei Normal University graduation certificate and dual bachelor's degrees from both China and Italy.

The Conservatorio di Musica 'Arcangelo Corelli' di Messina, founded in 1938, is a historic public higher education institution for music. Its Opera programme ranks among the top 50 globally, and it offers the only Master's programme in Mediterranean Traditional Music Protection in Europe. The Conservatorio maintains long-standing exchanges and cooperation with the Erasmus+ programme and the Italian National Symphony Orchestra. Its faculty have served as judges for top international competitions, including the Busoni International Piano Competition, and have trained numerous high-level talents and renowned artists in the field of music.

The approval of both the institution and the programme represents a phased achievement in implementing the University's Ninth Party Congress strategic plan and its '1227' high-quality development strategy. It is also a landmark outcome of the University's ongoing commitment to deepening its international education engagement and serving local and regional development. Looking ahead, the University will continue to strengthen the quality of its Sino-foreign cooperative education provision, support the 'high-level grafting' and leapfrog development of its disciplines, and enhance both the quality of talent cultivation and its international reputation. Through these efforts, the University aims to contribute its wisdom and strength to advancing higher education in Hebei Province, supporting regional digital industry upgrading and serving China's broader commitment to high-standard opening-up in education.