Australian and Chinese University Sport Leaders Strengthen Ties Through Landmark Visit

Senior leaders from across China’s university sport sector have completed a week-long visit to Australia, highlighting the growing connections between Australian and Chinese universities and the important role sport plays in student wellbeing, leadership and campus life.

The visit, hosted by UniSport Australia in partnership with the Federation of Chinese University and School Sports (FOCUSS), brought together university leaders, sport administrators and education professionals from both countries for a series of discussions, campus visits and shared learning experiences in Sydney and Melbourne.

The delegation included representatives from some of China’s leading universities alongside senior officials from FOCUSS, providing a unique opportunity to exchange ideas and gain insight into the ways universities are using sport to support student success, health and community connection.

UniSport Australia Chief Executive Officer Mark Sinderberry said the visit reflected the growing importance of university sport as a platform for international understanding and people-to-people connections.

“Sport has a remarkable ability to bring people together. While our universities operate in different environments, we share many of the same aspirations around student wellbeing, participation, leadership development and creating a strong sense of belonging on campus.”

Throughout the week, delegates visited several Australian universities, including the University of Technology Sydney, Victoria University, the University of Melbourne and La Trobe University. They met with university leaders, toured facilities and explored how sport contributes to the broader student experience.

A highlight of the visit was a strategic workshop focused on the FISU Healthy Campus program, where delegates discussed how universities can take a whole-of-institution approach to supporting student health and wellbeing. With more than half of Australian universities now participating in the initiative, the discussions provided valuable insights into how sport, recreation and wellbeing services can work together to improve student outcomes.

The delegation also attended the 2026 UniSport Australia National Conference, where they engaged with university sport leaders from across the country and gained a deeper understanding of the Australian university sport landscape.

FOCUSS Vice President and Secretary General, Chen Dongsheng said the visit had provided valuable opportunities to learn from Australian universities and strengthen connections between the two countries.

“The hospitality shown by our Australian colleagues has been exceptional. We have gained many new ideas and look forward to continuing these conversations in the years ahead.”

The visit culminated in the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding between UniSport Australia and FOCUSS, formalising a shared commitment to future cooperation and knowledge exchange between the two organisations.

The visit represents another important step in UniSport Australia’s international engagement efforts, creating new opportunities for Australian universities and students to connect, learn and collaborate with peers around the world.

As global interest in university sport continues to grow, visits such as this demonstrate the unique role universities can play in building understanding across cultures, creating lifelong connections and using sport as a powerful force for positive student experiences.

UniSport Australia thanks all host institutions, university leaders and staff who contributed to making the visit a success.