Case Study: Napier University
A key strategic goal for Napier University is the internationalisation of its provision, staff and students. China, as the largest market for Scottish higher education institutions, is crucial to that. Napier was the first Scottish university to have a representative office in China. It currently has five members of staff in its office in Beijing, allowing the University to engage at all levels from state to provincial to institutional. Currently around 10 per cent of Napier's students are Chinese and the university views its engagement with China as a long-term relationship which has already created a number of strategic alliances with universities throughout China. These are in the form of articulation arrangements (that enable students from Chinese institutions to progress on to Napier's courses), joint research and staff exchanges.
The University is continually developing strong relationships with education providers and governmental organisations in China and most recently signed a memorandum of understanding with the Governor of Shandong. This understanding will offer scholarships to Shandong government officials to study on Napier's MBA programme.
Articulation Arrangements: For a number of years Napier has been accepting students from partner institutions on to undergraduate programmes at advanced level. However, in 2005-2006 a new form of articulation arrangement was approved by the Chinese Ministry of Education and there are now more than 400 students studying these programmes in two partner universities (Zhenzhou University of Light Industry and Shandong University of Finance). Under these arrangements, Napier staff assisted in the creation of a syllabus which combined the rigour of Chinese academic culture with more innovative teaching and learning approaches used in Scotland. A feature of the programmes is that Napier staff are contracted to teach in China and that the students finish their degrees in Edinburgh. These programmes are in the areas of Consumer Product Design, Computing, Finance, International Trade and Business Studies.
Programmes Run in China : Napier has around 1,000 students studying for degrees and masters degrees in China. These are fully matriculated Napier University students who study programmes which are taught by Napier staff - with tutorial assistance from our partner universities. Partners with whom Napier teaches these programmes include the University of Hong Kong (one of Asia's top ten Universities). The students study a range of programmes in Business & Accountancy and Life Sciences, both part-time and full-time.
Research: Napier is the lead institution in the EU-China Direct Research Centre. This is a group which includes more than 20 Chinese universities and was formed to establish a 'facility' which is capable of attracting funds to develop a research and consultancy reputation in China. In the first year of its development there were more than 20 joint publications and one textbook translated into Chinese. The majority of the research collaboration to date has been in economics and finance, in particular the effect of China's entry into the World Trade Organisation.
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