• A ceremony has been held to welcome the first cohort of students studying at the new Keele University and Chengdu University of Traditional Chinese Medicine (CDUTCM) Joint Education Institute in China; 
• More than 200 students have signed up for two degree programmes initially on offer;
• Keele is now one of around 30 universities in the UK with a Joint Institute in China. 

A special ceremony has been held in China to welcome the first cohort of students studying at the new Keele University and Chengdu University of Traditional Chinese Medicine (CDUTCM) Joint Education Institute.

More than 200 students have signed up for the two undergraduate degree programmes initially on offer through the Joint Institute - Rehabilitation and Exercise Therapy, and Public Health Management.

A delegation from Keele attended Wednesday's opening ceremony at the Wenjiang Campus, where they welcomed 240 students starting their four-year programmes. They were joined by colleagues from CDUTCM, local government officials, and representatives from the British Council in China.

Professor Pauline Walsh, Pro Vice-Chancellor and Executive Dean of Medicine and Health Sciences at Keele, said: "We’re very proud to be officially launching this Joint Institute and the start of a strategic partnership between our two universities. This is a fantastic chance for the students to experience these subjects from different perspectives and approaches to education, and become real global graduates. For the universities, it opens the door to collaborative research opportunities in unique areas based around health, rehabilitation and exercise."

The Joint Institute with CDUTCM, a leading Chinese "National Double First Class" University with over 25,000 students, was approved by the Chinese Ministry of Education earlier this year, meaning Keele is one of around 30 UK universities with a Joint Institute in China. The Institute will offer students the opportunity to receive a dual degree from Keele and CDUTCM, and provide a basis for further degree programmes and collaborative research opportunities to be developed. All students will be taught in China but options are being explored for them to visit Keele during their programme.

Professor Walsh added: "Both universities share a strong sense of professionalism and integrity, and we’re equally committed to academic standards and giving students the best education and experience possible. It's really encouraging to see more than 200 students on these inaugural courses, which provides a strong start to the partnership. 

"This is a really exciting and important development for Keele and represents a major achievement and an important step for the University, one which will significantly enhance Keele's reputation and profile in China."

Yu Shuguang, President of Chengdu University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, said: "We sincerely hope that the Institute becomes a paragon of win-win cooperation in higher education between China and the UK."