In an Australian first, Monash University has been granted a licence to operate as a university in China.
China’s Ministry of Education has granted Monash a licence to operate as a university in China, in partnership with China’s Southeast University – one of China’s oldest institutions of higher learning and ranked among the top 500 universities in the world.
The two universities will form the Southeast University-Monash University Joint Graduate School (Suzhou), located in Jiangsu province – Victoria’s Chinese sister state, making Monash the third foreign university to obtain such a licence along with Britain’s Nottingham University and Liverpool University which were granted licences nine years ago.
The landmark partnership with Southeast University will provide advanced postgraduate education to more than 1400 students, and gives Monash a presence on the ground in one of the world’s largest economies.
The Southeast University-Monash University Joint Graduate School (Suzhou) will officially welcome its first students later this year.
Located in Suzhou, near Shanghai, the Graduate School will feature postgraduate courses in a range of disciplines including nanotechnology, biomedicine, environmental science, transportation, industrial design, economics, software, thermal and mechanical engineering.
Students will graduate with degrees from both SEU and Monash.
Vice-Chancellor and President, Monash University, Professor Ed Byrne said the partnership with China was the next step for a globally engaged university.
“This is an exciting development for both Monash and Southeast University,” Professor Byrne said.
“The partnership allows us to prepare students to be international citizens, equipped to meet the rigours of a workforce in transition.
“China has one of the fastest growing economies in the world, with an impressive record of innovation. This makes it an ideal location for a progressive university such as Monash.”
The Graduate School will accept 350 masters students and 150 PhD candidates each year, building to a capacity of more than 1400 by 2017.
Monash is Australia’s largest university, with six Australian campuses and international campuses in Malaysia and South Africa, and research centres in India and Italy. It is currently ranked among the top one percent of world universities. ■
