The purpose of the DLI is to advance the exchange of culture, science, engineering and technology between China and the United Kingdom, promoting the development of education in both countries and facilitating academic collaboration between Dalian University of Technology and the University of Leicester.

The purpose of the DUT–QUT International School of Engineering is to foster international academic collaboration, and cultivate engineering graduates with global competence and innovative capacity, while strengthening the research and teaching capabilities of both partner universities.