Curtin University has welcomed a cohort of 41 students from Yanshan University – a public university located in Qinhuangdao, Hebei Province, 260 kilometres east of Beijing.
Thirty final-year undergraduate students from Yanshan’s industrial engineering degree have transferred into Curtin’s Bachelor of Science (Industrial Optimisation) – a course that already attracts high-achieving students from Curtin’s other international partners, including Mahidol University in Thailand.
Eleven second-year postgraduate students from Yanshan have joined Curtin’s Master of Engineering Science (Electrical Engineering).
The partnership with Yanshan University is an important element to Curtin’s global strategy to create pathways for well-qualified international students to study at our campuses.
Undergraduate student Xing Zhi Xian chose to study the joint program for the international study experience.
“I chose to study at Yanshan University because Yanshan is my hometown. But I also wanted to study abroad,” Xing reveals.
“Foreign unis are very different to Chinese unis. I searched the internet, found that Curtin is a good university and learned that it is in Perth. I want to make a lot of friends and learn about the Australian culture.”
Yanshan Master of Engineering (Electrical Engineering) student Koen Yin joined after learning about Curtin’s strong reputation in science and engineering and was further reassured when Curtin science and engineering academics travelled to Yanshan University to lecture student groups prior to their transfer.
“Curtin is an excellent university in power engineering. The visiting lecturers were good and they gave us new learning materials. I want to complete my academic project at Curtin,” Koen says.
Students will graduate with degrees from both universities.
The opportunity for the Chinese students came about thanks to the development of a strong partnership between Curtin and Yanshan, which began in 2013.
Both institutions have worked closely together to develop programs that will prepare students to work in a global environment.
“The new cohort of students from Yanshan will gain an international education as they complete their studies in a new cultural environment,” explains Curtin Deputy Vice-Chancellor International Professor Seth Kunin.
“Global mobility is an important aspect of education today. Through diversification of our classroom, we are preparing students for life in the real world.
“The students will also add a global perspective to the classrooms here at Curtin and further internationalise the student experience.”
Curtin has similar partnerships with other Chinese institutions, including Nanjing Audit University, Dongbei University of Finance and Economics, South China Normal University, Anhui University of Finance and Economics and Zhongnan University of Economics and Law.
“Development of successful international partnerships helps to position Curtin as a global leader in education,” says Kunin.
For more information about Curtin partnerships in China, please contact Nigel de Silva, Deputy Director, Transnational Education and Partnerships at Curtin University.
