Two degrees offered in Sino-British partnership

A new educational partnership between China and the United Kingdom was unveiled on Monday, as the two countries gear up to further strengthen higher educational links, despite disruption from the COVID-19 pandemic.

The partnership, signed between Chengdu University and the University of Stirling, enables Chinese students to study bachelor's degrees in sport studies, data science and digital media awarded by both universities.

Graduates will receive two degrees－one from Stirling and one from Chengdu－at the end of four years of studies, providing they fulfill the academic requirements for both institutions.

Students will also be offered the option to pursue studies at Stirling, both as part of their undergraduate or postgraduate program once circumstances allow.

Gerry McCormac, principal and vice-chancellor of the University of Stirling, welcomed the partnership.

"The University of Stirling is …driven to build global partnerships with like-minded institutions across the world," he said.

"We have strong links with China, including existing relationships with the University of Chinese Academy of Social Sciences and Hebei Normal University, and I am incredibly proud that we're able to add the prestigious Chengdu University to that list."

Sharing values

He said he believes Chengdu and Stirling share the same values of excellence and innovation, and a belief that international education and collaboration can help build a better world. "With our combined strengths, I know this partnership will go on to achieve great things, not only for our students and staff, but for communities and societies across the globe," he added.

The two universities will have sports related content, with interdisciplinary elements across all three degrees.

Stirling was named UK Sports University of the Year 2020. Recently, six of its current students completed in the delayed 2020 Tokyo Games, with two winning gold medals.

The city of Chengdu and its wider region is well known for leisure sports, and Chengdu University is the hosting partner of the Summer World University Games next year.

About 900 Chinese students are currently studying at the University of Stirling, which counts 4,500 Chinese graduates among its 100,000 alumni, across 120 countries.