Wenzhou-Kean University is a Sino-US cooperative university with independent corporate capacity. On November 16, 2011, the Ministry of Education approved Wenzhou University and Kean University to prepare for the establishment of Wenzhou-Kean University. On March 21, 2012, the foundation stone of WKU was laid in Wenzhou City. On December 16, 2013, an expert group from the Ministry of Education headed by Academician Huang Wei of the Chinese Academy of Sciences conducted an investigation and evaluation on Wenzhou-Kean University. On March 31, 2014, the Ministry of Education formally approved the establishment of WKU.

On May 7, 2008, Xue Wei, Vice President of Wenzhou University, Yan Xiaopeng, the then Dean of College of International Education, Bao Hanli, the then Director of the Foreign Affairs Office, Yan Shilei, Project Manager, held a meeting via video links with Nelson, the then Vice President of Kean University, and heads of Foreign Education Development, International Student Admissions, Finance and other relevant personnel. The two sides made detailed communication and arrangement on the “2+2” Programs for students in 2008 and expected further cooperation as soon as possible.

On October 21, 2010, Dawood Farahi, the then President of Kean University and Philip Connelly, the then Executive Vice President visited WZU. Lin Weiping, the then Director of Wenzhou Education Bureau, Zhang Zhihong, the then Deputy Director of Wenzhou Education Bureau, Chen Fusheng, the then Party Secretary of WZU, Xue Wei, Vice President of WZU, and heads of related departments and colleges received the guests. Chen Fusheng introduced the general situation of Wenzhou University, especially the specific entrepreneurial education and teacher education. The two sides also conducted in-depth exchanges and discussions on cooperation in running schools.

On November 30, 2010, Chen Derong, the then Vice Governor and Secretary of the Municipal Party Committee, Zhao Yide, the then Deputy Secretary of the Municipal Party Committee and other leaders held talks with Philip Connelly, the then Executive Vice President of Kean University and his colleagues. Lin Weiping, the then Director of Wenzhou Education Bureau, also held a meeting with Philip Connelly.

On July 17, 2018, more than 30 Italian students and young entrepreneurs appeared at the WKU campus. They were members of the 2018 Entrepreneurship Summer Camp held by Wenzhou University, and they chose WKU as the venue for the opening ceremony of this event.

On March 28, 2019, WZU leaders and relevant department heads visited WKU and held a special conference there to discuss the deepening of exchanges and cooperation between the two sides. Wang Beijiao, Deputy Party Secretary of WZU and Party Secretary of WZK briefed the situation in WZK. He pointed out that Wenzhou University had played a vital role in the establishment and development of Wenzhou-Kean University. He hoped that the two universities would continue to expand the cooperation on recruitment of teachers, discipline construction, talent training, student enrollment and publicity. Zhao Min, President of WZU said that Wenzhou University has the responsibility and obligation to provide better support for the construction of Wenzhou-Kean University. He also expected that Wenzhou-Kean University can grow rapidly and fuel the development of Wenzhou University with greater efforts.

On June 1, 2019, Dawood Farahi, the then President of Kean University, John Kean Jr., Alexander Mirabella, James Hynes and other directors of WKU visited WZU. The two sides held talks on deepening educational exchanges and cooperation. University leaders including Xie Shuhua, Zhao Min, Wang Beijiao, Xue Wei, and Qian Qiang attended the meeting, and heads of related departments and colleges held talks.

On March 23, 2021, Yang Yixin, Vice President of Wenzhou-Kean University, led relevant personnel from the Teaching Department to the Undergraduate School of Wenzhou University. Xue Wei, Vice President of Wenzhou University, Zhao Yan, Xia Yuanzhi, Chen Xiaolin, Deputy Directors of the Undergraduate School of Wenzhou University and the heads of various offices received the visitors. Yang Yixin first thanked Wenzhou University for its support and help during the establishment of Wenzhou-Kean University. He pointed out that there were still many shortcomings in the construction of programs and disciplines of WKU. He hoped to learn from the valuable experience of Wenzhou University in the construction of first-class undergraduate programs and first-class courses, and deepen the cooperation between the two universities. Zhao Yan, Xia Yuanzhi, and Chen Xiaolin also discussed the collaboration on virtual simulation teaching projects, educational administration management, inter-university exchanges, and international professional construction resources.