UCLan marks 30th anniversary of successful partnership with prominent Chinese University

30 May 2022

UCLan was one of first foreign universities to set up international cooperation in China

The University of Central Lancashire (UCLan) and Guangdong University of Foreign Studies (GDUFS) are celebrating a successful 30-year partnership that has seen thousands of Chinese students complete their studies at UCLan.

UCLan was one of the first foreign universities to set up international cooperation in China after the country’s Reform and Opening Up policy.

Over the last three decades more than 2000 students have progressed from GDUFS, which is based in Guangzhou in South China, to obtain their undergraduate degrees at UCLan, with many going on to achieve great successes in their careers.

More than 100 GDUFS staff members have visited UCLan and undergone training programmes while hundreds of UK student have had opportunities to travel to Guangzhou via the Journey to the East initiative, greatly expanding their international exposure.

"We firmly believe in a relationship that has seen decades of dynamic changes in both countries and produced great opportunities for students and staff alike."

UCLan Vice-Chancellor Professor Graham Baldwin

The two partners marked the milestone with a celebration attended both in-person and online by senior staff, retired founders of the partnership and prominent alumni.

UCLan Vice-Chancellor Professor Graham Baldwin said: “The UCLan-GDUFS partnership was one of the first partnerships of its kind to establish an in-country transnational education programme, which encouraged hundreds of students to enrol in Guangzhou. Such was the impact of this initiative; it has been lauded by both countries’ governments.

“UCLan and GDUFS are now looking to the future amid high hopes. We firmly believe in a relationship that has seen decades of dynamic changes in both countries and produced great opportunities for students and staff alike.”