University to open China's first foreign branch school in Bangkok ( 2003-11-18 15:07) (Xinhua)
Sources with Guangzhou-based
Ji' nan University said the university would open China's first foreign branch
school in Bangkok in two years to enroll new students from Thailand and other
southeast Asian countries.
"It is the first step for Chinese universities' strategy of going global,"
said Liu Renhuai, president of Ji'nan University, targeting about 20 million
Thai Chinese in the country.
Liu said the university would spend US$16 million on the first stage of
construction for the International School in downtown areas of Bangkok, capital
of Thailand.
The new branch school is expected to welcome its first students in September
2005 when only 600 to 800 undergraduates will be recruited and later expand its
education to graduate students.
Liu said the branch school would open five to six business management courses
such as international finance and trade taught in Chinese and required courses
for students include Thai language, English, morality and ethics.
A board of directors will take charge of management while the dean will be
selected by the university headquarters in Guangzhou. All the teaching staff and
curricula will be controlled by the university headquarters.
Sources said the university would work with Thai partners to build the
international school into another Ji'nan University (Bangkok) within 12 years
with schools of tourism and medicines.
Ji'nan University is one of China's two universities providing major
Chinese-style education to overseas Chinese students from Hong Kong, Macau,
Taiwan and other foreign countries and regions. The other is the Overseas
Chinese University in Quanzhou city of southeast China's Fujian Province.
The plan was approved by the Overseas Chinese Affairs Office and the Ministry
of Education in September.
