University of the Highlands and Islands opens microcampus in China

The University of the Highlands and Islands has opened a microcampus at the Hunan Institute of Engineering in China.
 
The development builds on an existing partnership between the two organisations which enables students from across China to study the University of the Highlands and Islands’ BEng electrical and electronic engineering and BEng mechanical engineering degrees.
 
University of the Highlands and Islands principal and vice-chancellor, Professor Clive Mulholland, and Hunan Institute of Engineering President, Liu Guofan, marked the opening with the unveiling of a plaque.
 
Professor Stuart Gibb, the university’s vice-principal international and external engagement, also attended the opening along with Perth College UHI principal and chief executive Margaret Cook and her colleagues Veronica Lynch, vice-principal (external) and Lin Shen director of partnerships - China and South East Asia.
 
Speaking about the new facility, Professor Stuart Gibb explained: “The opening of a microcampus is an important and exciting step in the development of the university and a clear statement of our international aspirations. It will provide an adaptive platform for intensification of our partnership with Hunan Institute of Engineering in undergraduate provision and for the development of new postgraduate, research and pedagogic activity.”
 
The launch event took place on Monday 5 November, the day of the engineering students’ graduation. The ceremony, held in the city of Xiangtan in Hunan Province, southern China, saw 90 students graduate from all over the country. Five students had completed their degrees with Honours by studying for a fourth year at Perth College UHI.
 
Professor Clive Mulholland said: “Today has been an opportunity to celebrate and reward the commitment and achievements of our graduates. This is an exciting time in their lives and we wish them every success in the future. It is also important to recognise the efforts which have been made to foster collaboration between our institutions which has made today possible.”
 
Margaret Cook added: “Our partnership with Hunan Institute of Engineering has gone from strength to strength resulting in high achievement rates and progression for our students. We look forward to taking our productive relationship with Hunan Institute of Engineering in China to the next level with the opening of the microcampus.”