Since its inception in 2004, the Joint Education Institute between Queen Mary and BUPT pioneered the first collaborative program of its kind between a leading UK and prominent Chinese university. Over the years, the Joint Programme (JP) has graduated over 9,600 students with dual Bachelor of Science degrees in Engineering, granting them two distinct qualifications upon completion. In 2020, Queen Mary and BUPT inaugurated a new Joint Teaching and Learning Centre aimed at advancing teaching excellence and best practices in Transnational Education (TNE). Additionally, 2022 saw the launch of the QMUL-BUPT School Hainan, introducing innovative teaching approaches from both institutions to a new setting in Hainan, China.
At the 20th Anniversary Development Conference, Queen Mary’s President and Principal, Professor Colin Bailey CBE, said, “Today is an important day for Queen Mary University of London as we celebrate 20 years of our bilateral partnership between two globally leading universities, which was the first ever joint programme between a UK and Chinese university. I am immensely proud of this successful collaboration and what we have achieved in education and scholarship over the last two decades. Seeing our graduates thrive in an increasingly globalised world of work fills me with joy and their enduring pride in Queen Mary – BUPT is a constant reminder that we have created a very special Joint Education Institute dedicated to educational excellence and to creating a lifelong network of support/community of friends”.
Michael Chai, QM Director of Joint Programme and Executive Vice Dean of Queen Mary School with BUPT, highlighted the unique academic strengths of the JP, said, “Our Joint Programme here in Beijing equips our students with a unique blend of skills that is unrivalled. Combining the mathematical and scientific rigour found in China and the emphasis on creative problem-solving and transferable skills in the UK, our dual degrees prepare each student for a successful career in the international telecommunications industry and, through knowledge and understanding of local conditions, put them one step ahead of the competition”.
Marking 20 years of collaborative teaching, learning, and research, university faculty and students organized a Joint Lab Research Exhibition. The anniversary celebrations coincided with the graduation of Queen Mary-BUPT's latest cohort and concluded with a Gala event. This year, over 600 students graduated with degrees in Electronic Information Engineering, Intelligent Science and Technology, Telecommunications Engineering with Management, Internet of Things Engineering, and e-Commerce Engineering with Law.
Throughout their academic journey, students receive top-notch instruction shared between both universities. In 2020, Queen Mary-BUPT launched a new Joint Teaching and Learning Centre to enhance teaching quality, foster learning excellence, and exchange best practices in Transnational Education (TNE). Endorsed by the Chinese Ministry of Education (MoE), the JP has significantly progressed and is now recognized as China's premier dual award degree program. A substantial number of graduates continue their education with master's and PhD programs at esteemed institutions such as Queen Mary, Oxford, Cambridge, and Stanford.
