About us
Andrew’s role is to lead a multi-disciplinary and multi-country team to deliver on institutional priorities in relation to international student recruitment, the student campus and learning experience, and the institutions world ranking position. He has strategic responsibility for international admissions, student recruitment and marketing, immigration and visa compliance, and international student support.
Andrew has over 20 years of experience in international higher education working with students and academic and commercial partners. Andrew holds an MBA from the University of Huddersfield and is also a Chartered Manager. Starting at the University in 2003, he has held several roles in international education before becoming Director in 2013.
Andrew also served as Vice-Chair of the British Universities International Liaison Association working on lobbying issues for the sector including the Graduate Visa Route and the Agent Quality Framework.
Ying Lei is an associate professor at the School of Business, East China University of Science and Technology (ECUST), where she has been working since 1999. She holds a bachelor’s degree in statistics, a master’s degree in finance from Southwestern University of Finance and Economics, and a PhD in accounting from Shanghai University of Finance and Economics (2005). She was also a visiting scholar at Baruch College, City University of New York (2013–2014). Her research has been published in Accounting Research and Journal of Finance and Economics, leading academic journals in China, and she teaches courses in finance, accounting, and risk management in graduate programs, including MBA and MPAcc. In addition to her academic work, she was a supervisor at ECUST Asset Management Company from 2015 to 2018 and is a certified public accountant (CPA) in China. She has also served as an independent director for listed companies, focusing on corporate governance and financial oversight.
Mr. Yu Jianping read English Language and Literature at East China Normal University. He is currently a member of the academic staff in the School of Foreign Languages at East China University of Science and Technology (ECUST). He also serves as Director of the College English Teaching and Research Office, with responsibility for the coordination of English language teaching and the enhancement of pedagogical practice across the university. Mr. Yu oversees ECUST’s English Morning Reading Programme, which involves over 4,000 students annually in activities such as debate, academic reading, and student-led English societies. As a Visiting Scholar at the University of Sheffield, he pursued research in cognitive linguistics, language pedagogy, historical linguistics, and the history of the English language.Alongside his teaching and research commitments, Mr.Yu contributes to the university’s translation and editorial work. He has translated many books and taken part in the editing and translation of literary works . He has also served as interpreter for the Shanghai Municipal Education Delegation during its visit to the United States, and has provided professional interpreting services for major international events such as the inaugural Shanghai Beach Volleyball Tournament.Mr. Yu’s research interests centre on translation theory and practice, with particular attention to the relationship between linguistic cognition, translation pedagogy, and applied language studies.
A seasoned educator with nearly 30 years of experience in language pedagogy, Diana holds an MA in Mass Communications from Fudan University. She currently teaches Mandarin (HSK Levels 1-4) and do cultural promotion at the Confucius Institute of Science and Technology Innovation at the University of Huddersfield, specialising in bridging intercultural communication through language and traditional arts.
• Personal: An eclectic enthusiast of global cinema, detective fiction, and music (from Mandopop to British Rock). She enjoys the strategic challenge of poker, visiting museums, and hiking the Yorkshire countryside.
Echo joined the university in July 2022 as our administrator,Her main role is to organise all courses,assist with activities,as well as general duties in the day-to-day life of the Confucius Institute.
Zimeng Zhang is a Chinese Language Education teacher at the Confucius Institute of Science and Technology at the University of Huddersfield. She is currently engaged in Translation studies at East China University of Science and Technology (ECUST). With a solid academic foundation in translation, she integrates her passion for Chinese language education and cross-cultural communication to foster meaningful cultural exchange with creativity and warmth.
Claire joined the CI in 2025. She comes from Luoyang in Henan Province, a renowned ancient capital of thirteen dynasties in China, celebrated for its profound historical heritage and beautiful scenery. With an outgoing personality, she is deeply passionate about Chinese language teaching and cultural communication. Drawing on diverse professional experience, she previously served as an interpreter at multiple large-scale exhibitions. Skilled in both traditional Chinese musical instruments and Western instruments like the guitar and piano, she is also proficient in Chinese calligraphy.
