Stirling launches new partnership with Chinese university

The University of Stirling has added to its prestigious list of international affiliations with the launch of a new educational partnership with Chengdu University in China.

The opening ceremony for Chengdu University – Stirling College (CDUSC) is taking place today (6 September) in Chengdu, Sichuan province.

The partnership enables students to study degrees in Sports Studies (BA (Hons)), Data Science (BSc (Hons)) and Digital Media (BA (Hons)), awarded from both universities.

Graduates will receive two degrees – one from Stirling and one from Chengdu – at the end of four years of study, providing they fulfil the academic requirements for each institution. The students will also have the option to pursue study at Stirling both as part of their undergraduate programme or for a postgraduate programme, once circumstances allow.

Principal and Vice-Chancellor of the University of Stirling, Professor Sir Gerry McCormac

Welcoming the partnership, Principal and Vice-Chancellor of the University of Stirling, Professor Sir Gerry McCormac, said: “The University of Stirling is an international university with a pioneering spirit and global reputation for high-quality teaching and research – and we are driven to build global partnerships with likeminded institutions across the world.

“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.

“Chengdu and Stirling share 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.”

The two universities share a passion for sport, and the data science and media degrees will both contain sports-related content, with elements of interdisciplinarity across all three degrees.

Stirling is Scotland’s University for Sporting Excellence and was named UK Sports University of the Year 2020, and recently welcomed six Olympic athletes – including two gold medallists – back from the Tokyo Games. Chengdu city and the wider region are well-known for leisure sports, and Chengdu University is a hosting partner of the 31^st FISU (International University Sports Federation) World University Games next year.

Professor McCormac said: “Of course, sport is as important for health as it is for cultivating a competitive spirit, and I know that both our institutions greatly value the contribution that sport makes to the health and wellbeing of our students, staff and wider communities.”

Almost 900 Chinese students study at the University of Stirling, which counts 4,500 Chinese graduates among its near 100,000 alumni, across 120 countries.

As well being known for sport, Chengdu is home to the Chengdu Panda Base, which has bred the largest population of captive giant pandas in the world. Chengdu was the first designated UNESCO City of Gastronomy in Asia, and is also known for its opera and association with two famous Chinese poets - Li Bai and Du Fu.

To find out more about Stirling’s international partnerships visit https://www.stir.ac.uk/international/our-partnerships/