Beijing Normal University (BNU) has established long term relationship with Finnish universities in collaboration of academic research, teacher training, educational science and learning science. Based on the Memorandum of Cooperation between The Ministry of Education of the People’s Republic of China and The Ministry of Education and Culture of The Republic of Finland on Strengthening Comprehensive Cooperation on Education signed in 2015, Beijing Normal University and the University of Helsinki, as the national coordinating universities in China and Finland, join hands together with universities and companies to implement the concept of “Sino-Finnish Learning Garden”. The Memorandum of Understanding concerning the establishment of the Sino-Finnish Joint Learning Innovation Institute (JoLII) was signed on 16 Nov, 2015.

JoLII is committed to combining the strengths of universities, basic education schools, and companies in China and Finland, to co-create universal, student-centered learning solutions, to better cultivate 21st century talents. JoLII has established six centers: Learning Research Innovation Center, Learning Garden Experience Center, Teacher Development Center, Education ICT Center, Dual Degree Center, and Education Research Center.

In 2020, JoLII has signed the extension agreement (2020-2030) to continue its cooperation for another decade. The number of JoLII’s member institutions has increased to 11 in Finland and 14 in China. Finnish members are 10 universities (University of Helsinki, Aalto University, University of Tampere, University of Jyväskylä, University of Oulu, University of Eastern Finland, University of Turku, University of Lapland, University Consortium of Pori, Åbo Akademi University) and 1 company (Educluster Finland Ltd); Chinese members are 7 universities (Beijing Normal University, Peking University, East China Normal University, Southwest University, Shaanxi Normal University, Northeast Normal University, Central China Normal University), 2 companies（Netdragon Websoft Inc. and YUANFUDAO), 2 education societies (Chinese Society of Education and EduChina Group) and 3 schools (Beijing Zhengze School, The Third Affiliated Middle School of Beijing Normal University and Asia-Pacific Experimental School of Beijing Normal University). From 2021, JoLII has started cooperation with the Global Innovation Network for Teaching and Learning (GINTL), a network in which Finnish higher education institutions, together with partners from India, China and Africa, co-create research-based solutions to global educational challenges and collaborate in research and education (https://gintl.org/).

The development of psychology at Beijing Normal University has a long history which can be traced back to 1902. The Faculty of Psychology at Beijing Normal University stably ranks the 1st in the Ministry of Education discipline ranking of psychology. The faculty is the only national key discipline unit of first-level psychology discipline in China. The Faculty has established the National Base for Basic Science Research and Teaching Talents Training, the Key Research Base for Humanities and Social Sciences of the Ministry of Education for Developmental Psychology, the State Key Laboratory of Cognitive Neuroscience and Learning, the Beijing Key Laboratory of Applied Experimental Psychology, the National Demonstration Center for Basic Psychology Experimental Teaching, the National Center for Virtual Simulation Experimental Teaching of Psychology, and the Beijing Institute of Higher Education Model campus innovation practice base. Its Psychiatry and Psychology, Neuroscience and Behavioral Sciences are among the top 1% of ESI. The Faculty is dedicated to construct the world - leading Psychology and Brain Science Discipline with a pervasive commitment to serve the Nation.

Shenzhen University of Advanced Technology (referred as SUAT) is a comprehensive public university established under the legal guidance of the Shenzhen Municipal People's Government. The foundation of this institution is based upon the tenets set forth by General Secretary Xi Jinping. With the deployment of the 20th National Congress of the CPC, which aims at "promoting education, science and technology, and talent development in a tripartite approach", Secretary Xi stresses the importance of building a new type of research universities; these universities will exemplify a strong commitment to high standards and high quality from their initial inception.

Relying on the high quality and abundant scientific and educational resources of first-class scientific research institutions and referring to the operational model of world-class science and engineering universities, SUAT operates in a way which integrates production & education, research & education, and a comprehensive establishment of interdisciplinary majors. By combining faculty, colleges, and institute; cultivating talents in different segments of "academic - engineering - entrepreneurship", SUAT will carry out meritocratic undergraduate education and foster outstanding scientists, engineers and innovative entrepreneurs in accordance with their aptitude.

According to the new trend of scientific and technological development and the development requirements of new productive forces SUAT determines to build a disciplinary and professional system meeting the needs of national strategic development, serving national strategic emerging industries and future industrial development, and focusing on new engineering majors and new medical science majors. Thus, seven interdisciplinary professional faculties, including Faculty of Life and Health Sciences, Faculty of Synthetic Biology, Faculty of Computer Science and Control Engineering, Faculty of Biomedical Engineering, Faculty of Material Science and Energy Engineering, Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences, and Faculty of Computility Microelectronics, have been established first. This year, the university plans to enroll its first batch of undergraduate students whose primary major is Computer Science and Technology in Guangdong Province. One year after entrance, students can choose their own majors; including Computer Science and Technology, Materials Science and Engineering, Neuroscience, Biotechnology, Pharmacy, etc.