Expanding horizons through British links

For Liu Shang, a major in e-commerce engineering with law at the International School of Beijing University of Posts and Telecommunications, the international teaching system helped improve his English skills and expand his horizons.

In 2004, the university teamed up with Queen Mary University of London in the United Kingdom to establish an innovative set of jointly run degree programs in information and communication engineering and computer science.

Teaching takes place in Beijing but is done entirely in English and is split 50/50 between the universities, with Queen Mary flying faculty to and from Beijing to give lectures.

"The total English learning environment was beneficial to improving our way of thinking and enabled us to know more about other cultures," he said.

In following British academic methods, the Chinese students have had to adapt.

Zeng Te, a major in telecommunications engineering with management, said the English teaching method focuses more on the learning process, which requires comprehensive abilities in things like teamwork, communications and information collection.

"I have to collect and research a great deal of information, which must be fully referenced, for me to write my graduation paper," Zeng said.

The partnership between the Chinese and the UK universities is equally balanced in every sense as students graduate with two degrees from BUPT and QMUL, the school said.

Liu Qian, who graduated from the school in 2012, has started an internet-based business in Shenzhen, Guangdong province.

He said that the practical opportunities the international school offered students had a profound impact on their lives.

"During my startup, I applied the knowledge and skills gained from the school to my work," Liu said.

Based on his experiences, he suggested students take more practical course modules, using advanced algorithms, that meet the needs of such related industries as artificial intelligence.

He added that the joint program has provided students with the skills to adapt to global development and created a kind of active thinking useful in a changeable environment.

liangkaiyan@chinadaily.com.cn

(China Daily 02/02/2018 page20)