UCLan announces ground-breaking Chinese partnership

By Lancashire Business View

29 Apr 2014

The University of Central Lancashire (UCLan) has today announced exciting plans to create a ground-breaking partnership with Hebei University (HBU) in Baoding, China.

The new partnership will create the Hebei/UCLan School of Media, Communication and Creative Industries, the first British partnership of this type in Hebei province.

The first cohort of students will enrol in September 2014 in a building specifically allocated for the new School on HBU’s new campus. Initially the School will have 800 students, recruiting 200 per year for the four year duration of the programmes. The intention is to grow to 1600 students and then to expand further by developing a broader curriculum with a focus on science-related subjects.

Initially the joint school will have non-independent status, meaning that although it will be a separate entity from HBU it will be wholly owned by it.

Academic programmes will initially be offered in conjunction with UCLan’s School of Art, Design and Performance and the School of Journalism and Media. Students enrolled can complete the full degree in China or split it between China and UCLan’s Preston Campus.

The partnership has been officially approved by the Chinese Ministry of Education and will build on UCLan’s already successful track record in China where the university has worked for over 20 years.

The Ministry of Education has been encouraging new forms of collaboration between British and Chinese Universities in recent years. This has included providing Chinese students with the option to complete their entire degree in-country, but also providing them with the opportunity to spend a period of time overseas, whilst remaining registered with the Chinese University. Post 2006, this is one of the first partnerships in Hebei province to be approved by the Ministry of Education under the new arrangements, gaining ‘non-independent statuses.

Once the programmes are running at full capacity, UCLan will be one of the largest providers of British higher education in China and only the eighth in the UK to gain non-independent status.

Graham Baldwin, UCLan's vice president, said: “This is the most significant development for UCLan in China for over a decade and we are privileged to be one of the first UK universities to gain approval for a project of this nature under China’s new Ministry of Education policies.

“We are delighted to be partnering with Hebei University who are the leading university in the province and have a fantastic track record of academic excellence of their own. It has taken less than 24 months from UCLan’s first visit to HBU to gaining official approval for the HBU/UCLan School – an astonishing achievement based largely on the concerted efforts of both institutions’ staff to build this relationship.

“This new international partnership model builds on our existing international programme which has seen the launch of our award-winning campus in Cyprus alongside plans to develop new markets in Mauritius. The increasing internationalisation of higher education will bring wonderful opportunities for UK students and international students alike and we are delighted to be playing our part in its continued growth.” Hebei University is located close in Baoding, approximately 36 minutes by the new fast train, from Beijing. The city is in a Province with a total population of over 77 million people.

Latest news

1

Three weekly domestic waste collection considered in plans Waste recycling Blackpool

Three weekly domestic waste collection considered in plans

01 Jul 2025

2

Graham Engineering confirms sale to a2e Industries Graham Engineering

Graham Engineering confirms sale to a2e Industries

01 Jul 2025

3

Training 2000 celebrates 'Good' rating by Ofsted Training 2000

Training 2000 celebrates 'Good' rating by Ofsted

01 Jul 2025

4

Fox Group acquires J Fisher and Sons Colin Fisher, Paul Fox CEO and Gary Fisher.

Fox Group acquires J Fisher and Sons

01 Jul 2025

5

Beever and Struthers strengthen leadership team with new partners Dean Curtis and Joe Diston

Beever and Struthers strengthen leadership team with new partners

01 Jul 2025

Background image for hub sign up block

LBV Hub

Leverage Lancashire Business View platforms

Post your news
Post your events
Post your offers
Build your network
Improve your SEO
Gain coverage in the magazine
Sign-up
Events
LBV123 July/August Launch Event
Lancashire Business View magazine launch
Networking
16 Jul 2025

LBV123 July/August Launch Event

Burnley

08:30 - 10:30

Lancashire Built Environment Conference 2025
BEC 315 X 315 Px
Networking
25 Sep 2025

Lancashire Built Environment Conference 2025

Blackpool Football Club, Blackpool, FY1 6HX

08:30 - 13:00

CMI Level 5 Management and Leadership Course
UCLanAerialCampus.jpg.jpg
LBV Hub Seminars
21 Feb 2025 - 21 Feb 2026

CMI Level 5 Management and Leadership Course

Preston Campus, Preston , PR1 2HE

09:00 - 17:00

CMI Level 5 Project Management Course
UCLanAerialCampus.jpg.jpg
LBV Hub Seminars
21 Feb 2025 - 21 Feb 2026

CMI Level 5 Project Management Course

Preston Campus, Preston, PR1 2HE

08:00 - 17:00

Chamber Breakfast Networking – July
Chamber Logo1.png.png
LBV Hub Networking
02 Jul 2025 - 02 Jul 2025

Chamber Breakfast Networking – July

St John's Hospice, Slyne Road, Lancaster, LA2 6ST

08:00 - 10:00

The Marketing Metrics that Matter – July 4
LBV Hub Seminars
04 Jul 2025 - 04 Jul 2025

The Marketing Metrics that Matter – July 4

Door4 Office, Burnley Wharf, Burnley, BB11 1JG

08:30 - 11:00

Tri-Site Survey Equipment Showcase
unnamed (2).jpg.jpg
LBV Hub Seminars
09 Jul 2025 - 09 Jul 2025

Tri-Site Survey Equipment Showcase

Crow Wood Hotel, Burnley, BB12 0RT

09:30 - 16:00

Blackburn Cathedral hosts Champagne and Diamonds Event with Ainsworth Jewellers
Champagne-Jewellery 10 07 25_page-0001.jpg.jpg
LBV Hub Awards
10 Jul 2025 - 10 Jul 2025

Blackburn Cathedral hosts Champagne and Diamonds Event with Ainsworth Jewellers

Blackburn Cathedral, Blackburn, BB1 5AA

18:00 - 20:30

Choose Chorley for Business - Talent Reimagined Business Breakfast
talentreimaginedbb.png.png
LBV Hub Seminars
10 Jul 2025 - 10 Jul 2025

Choose Chorley for Business - Talent Reimagined Business Breakfast

Strawberry Fields Digital Hub, Chorley, PR71PS

08:00 - 10:30

Shaping Preston's future by remembering its past
1750160034867.png.png
LBV Hub Networking
16 Jul 2025 - 16 Jul 2025

Shaping Preston's future by remembering its past

Society1, Coworking Space, Preston, PR1 3LT

18:00 - 20:30

Chamber Summer BBQ
LBV Hub Social
17 Jul 2025 - 17 Jul 2025

Chamber Summer BBQ

The Borough, Dalton Square, Lancaster, LA1 1PP

17:30 - 20:00

Preston Tech Connection: Web3 is Dead. Or is It?
July Longer Banner.jpg.jpg
LBV Hub Networking
29 Jul 2025 - 29 Jul 2025

Preston Tech Connection: Web3 is Dead. Or is It?

Society1, Coworking Space, Preston, PR1 3LT

18:00 - 19:30

Advertise with us

Reaching 50,000 members, our print, digital and event platforms offer a fantastic way to raise your business profile and help you grow.

Find out more LBV122 Online Graphic
Subscribe now

Weekly news bulletin