First student exchange agreement signed with Chinese university
The University has signed its first ever agreement to allow students to spend a year abroad in mainland China.
A new agreement between Sussex and the Chinese University of Hong Kong - Shenzhen campus (CUHK-SZ) will facilitate the exchange of undergraduate students between the two institutions for up to a year.
The Sussex Abroad team is working to increase exchange places in new regions such as East Asia. Since September 2015, the Student Mobility Partnerships Fund has provided funding to faculty to establish or new links for exchange, summer schools or short study/field trips.
Director of Student Recruitment, Marketing and International Affairs, Marcus Williams, said: “The Chinese University of Hong Kong is one of the world’s leading universities and the Shenzhen campus offers Sussex students the opportunity to experience Chinese culture and language at first-hand.
“This research-led university is located in one of China’s most exciting cities and its academic standards are second-to-none. The exchange is a great opportunity for Sussex students to experience a different perspective, develop new skills and enhance their CV.”
As demand for the study of Mandarin language grows, opportunities to live and study in China are increasingly attractive to undergraduates. At CUHK-SZ, students will be able to take modules in their academic subject, taught in English, alongside teaching in Chinese language and culture. The courses offered by CUHK-SZ will be of particular interest to students from the Schools of:
- Business, Management and Economics
- Engineering and Informatics
- Life Sciences
- Mathematical and Physical Sciences
Professor Michael Davies (third from right) and Sussex delegation at the Chinese University of Hong Kong - Shenzhen campus.
The new agreement complements the University’s existing student exchange with CUHK’s Sha Tin campus in Hong Kong, which has already proved to be a popular choice for Sussex students choosing to study in Asia. It also builds on an agreement with CUHK-SZ that facilitates the progression of Chinese undergraduate students to taught postgraduate degrees at Sussex.
The new exchange with CUHK-SZ has been followed closely by an agreement with Beijing Normal University (BNU), a public research institution that regularly ranks among China’s top 20 universities. In addition to Mandarin language, the BNU partnership will offer Sussex exchange students course in a range of subject areas, including Conservation and Environment, English, Education and Law.
The University already welcomes Renmin University of China students during term-time in exchange for summer school places for Sussex students, but the CUHK-SZ agreement will be the first agreement under which Sussex students can extend their degree and spend a whole Year Abroad in mainland China.
Undergraduate students interested in studying abroad in mainland China or other East Asian destinations should contact Lucy Cahalin in the Sussex Abroad team. The application deadline for 2016 entry is 31 January 2016.
Banner photo credit: flickr photo by xiquinhosilva http://flickr.com/photos/xiquinho/3467338882 shared under a Creative Commons (BY-NC) license