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 for 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 16 million US dollars 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 university headquarters.

Sources said the university would work with its Thai partners to build the international school into another Ji'nan University (Bangkok) within 12 years, with schools of tourism and medicine.

Ji'nan University is one of China's two universities providing major Chinese-style education to overseas Chinese students from Hong Kong, Macao, Taiwan and other foreign countries and regions. The other is the Overseas Chinese University in Quanzhou City, southeast China's Fujian Province.

The plan was approved by the Overseas Chinese Affairs Office and the Ministry of Education in September.

(Xinhua News Agency November 18, 2003)