China's Education Sector: More foreign collaborations to be expected in the future

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China says it will continue to open up, and one of the key sectors is the education market. In the past few years, a growing number of collaborative universities have set up campuses across the country, offering students both from China and abroad, a distinctive and international educational environment. CGTN's Wu Lei has more.

Another year, another graduation season. The class of 2018 is celebrating their commencement after completing their studies at New York University Shanghai, the first Sino-US joint research university in China.

Graduate Zoe Jordan, whose major was in Global China Study, says a global institution like NYU Shanghai is the best place for her to study Chinese history, culture and politics.

ZOE JORDAN GRADUATE, NYU SHANGHAI "I think a lot of other people are also interested in studying in China, this is the best place to do that, because you can learn from your Chinese professors, you can learn from your international professors, so there is no better place to learn about China's place in the world and how the world and China is interacting except for here."

Founded in 2012, NYU Shanghai is a unique partnership between New York University and East China Normal University. Its vice chancellor Jeffrey Lehman says their aim is to pioneer innovative curricula and stimulate a culture of creativity.

JEFFREY S. LEHMAN VICE CHANCELLOR, NYU SHANGHAI "The phenomenon of Sino-Foreign joint universities reflects the spirit of experimentation in China, the thought is that in order for Chinese higher education to continue to develop and progress, it's important to have experiments going on all over the country."

These development between Chinese and foreign institutions are wide-ranging, from whole universities, down to departmental cooperation. Those platforms also offer a great international environment for Chinese students who need not go abroad.

"Most of our teachers are from world-renowned educational institutions. Now I am in my first year, all of the classes are taught in English, and it is very interesting to have classes from those high quality professors."

Back in 2004, University of Nottingham Ningbo became the first Sino-Foreign University in China. Today this university is home to a thriving international community of over 6,800 students, and Professor Chris Rudd says the joint education program is a long-term investment.

CHRIS RUDD PROVOST, UNIVERSITY OF NOTTINGHAM NINGBO, CHINA "I think the big lessons for Nottingham's experience is that it's a long game, and the partners need on both sides to buy in to that as a long-term investment, about creating value, create value for local region, create value for the students and families, as well as for both partners."

With tens of thousands of students graduating each year, these joint education programs will bring more diversity into the system so that students get more choices in the kind of education experience they want to have.

WU LEI SHANGHAI Statistics from China's Ministry of Education show that there are roughly 26-hundred Sino-Foreign Joint education institutions and projects across the country. And as China vows to continue to reform its educational system, greater cooperation in the field is expected. Wu Lei, CGTN, SH.