University signals international ambitions with green light for education institution in China

Coventry University is set to establish an education institution in China, in collaboration with the Communication University of China, as it looks to build on its international success.

The project is currently in the development and construction stage alongside a number of other Chinese and foreign universities within the Hainan Lingshui Li’an International Education Innovation Pilot Zone.

The education institution, named the Communication University of China – Coventry College, has just been formally approved by the Ministry of Education in China and is expected to eventually attract more than 1,000 students, with the aim that the first of these will begin their studies in September 2023.

The Ministry’s approval will enable the education intuition to specialise in computer science, artificial intelligence and design, offering five courses in a mix of undergraduate, postgraduate-taught and PhD programmes.

Professor Jingjing Xu, academic dean and associate pro-vice-chancellor for China Partnerships, who has been leading this project after she joined Coventry University, said: “I am so pleased about the progress being made on this project and delighted to see Coventry University working in close collaboration with such a prestigious institution as the Communication University of China.

“We want to increase Coventry University’s global reach and build on our fantastic global reputation, which this project will help us achieve. I would like to thank everyone who is working on this project.”

Professor Richard Wells, pro-vice-chancellor international at Coventry University, added: “We believe that this project will bring great benefits to Coventry University, increasing our access to the Chinese market and potentially helping us grow our collaborations with companies and organisations within China.

“Many students in China may want to obtain an international degree but might not want or be able to move abroad to study. Our aim is to offer these students the chance to obtain these types of qualifications without having to move. By serving to raise our profile in China, our offer may also have the effect of encouraging more students from China to study in Coventry.

“It is hoped that this will also open up fantastic research opportunities and raise our profile in China.

“We are thrilled to have reached this stage, we have been working on this for a number of years and it is a complex project to deliver.”

Coventry University was recently awarded the Queen’s Award for Enterprise in the category of International Trade.