1st Sino-US university founded
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E-mail China Daily, October 16, 2012
The founding of Shanghai NYU has drawn global attention and may herald an era of more international students coming to China and give a greater choice to domestic students.
According to a report in September by the Social Sciences Academy Press, about 340,000 Chinese students went abroad for further study in 2011. Among them were a growing number of students from renowned high schools who skipped China's college entrance exam, or gaokao.
Last year, 76,800 high school students began studies overseas.
"This is a considerable number, and includes many excellent students," said Chen Qun, president of East China Normal University.
"Chinese universities should take a close look at themselves. They should accelerate reforms of education models and ensure the nation keeps the country's best students," Chen said.
Joint education ventures between China and other countries are nothing new.
Many Chinese universities have gone down this route, including Xi'an Jiaotong University teaming up with Liverpool University and the University of Nottingham establishing a campus in Ningbo, Zhejiang province.
"Joint education institutions should have a clear position and innovative methods," Chen said.
NYU Shanghai will initially position itself as an arts and science research university.
Students will spend the first two years studying liberal arts, including languages, social and cultural foundations, writing, mathematics and science before they choose a major.
"Liberal-arts education will help students better understand science and society, and help establish a solid foundation for further study," said Wang Xiaojing, provost and vice-president of NYU Shanghai.
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