Athlone Institute of Technology has signed an agreement with a leading Chinese university that will enable students from AIT to study in Beijing.
The memorandum of understanding was signed with Beijing Union University (BUU ) last week in a ceremony in Athlone. The agreement also allows for faculty visits between both institutions, for collaboration in research and teaching in areas of mutual interest, and for BUU students to study in Athlone.
AIT President, Professor Ciarán Ó Catháin, said that “Internationalising higher education brings benefits to all parties and our experience in attracting students and researchers from all over the world is testament to that. The global campus that AIT offers gives our students a world-perspective on life, one that will stand to them in their studies and in the work place.
“This agreement with BUU is one of many which AIT has forged with Chinese universities and research academies. China is, by common consent, the global force of this twenty-first century, so it is important that our students have the opportunity to experience at first hand Chinese culture and enterprise. This agreement creates the framework for student and faculty exchange between our two countries, thereby meeting one of the key targets of our strategic plan,” he added.
Beijing Union University was established in 1985 and currently has a student body of nearly 30,000, including 20,000 undergraduates. The university has 17 colleges in areas such as business, management, biochemical engineering, mechanical and electrical engineering, software, tourism, and culture.
