"The LEAD project is a capacity building joint project focusing on the strengthening and improvement of governance and academic leadership of universities in the context of innovation, modernization and internationalization of higher education institutions in China. The project aims to enhance capacities of academic leaders of HEIs on university governance and leadership, develop and implement training for academic leaders on university governance and academic leadership, support and enhance internationalization of HEIs, strengthen EU-China cooperation on university governance & academic leadership and foster a better understanding of academic leadership approaches in the EU and China.The target groups of the project are HEI academic leadership, including Rectors/Vice Rectors, Presidents/ Vice Presidents, Deans/Vice Deans, Directors of Central Education and Research Policy offices, Heads of departments, and potential academic leaders. The project activities include Leadership and Governance workshops and training, job shadowing, Academic Leadership round tables, seminars, developing new formats of training modules, such as MOOC modules on HEI Governance and Academic Leadership, and dissemination conferences and events.The Consortium is a strong and unique European and Chinese partnership composed of four European universities, one European university association, and five Chinese HEIs. The LEAD project consortium has implemented six series of workshops and training in China and Europe. The LEAD MOOC on ""University Governance and Academic Leadership"" has been developed and is available online for all relevant stakeholders. The project has attracted wide interests from Chinese and European HEIs. A book entitled ""University Governance and Academic Leadership in the EU and China"" has been completed and published. The results of the project have contributed to the enhancement of mutual understanding among Chinese and European university stakeholders and the competence development & modernization of HEIs on university governance. The project has also contributed to multi-level and cross-regional cooperation among stakeholders on academic leadership development. More cooperation has been facilitated among the project partners and beyond the partnership."