The University of Birmingham and Jinan University have joined forces to nurture mathematical talent in and around South China by launching a joint institute.

The joint institute, a first for both universities, will initially focus on degree programs in Applied Mathematics with Economics, Statistics, Computing, and Pure Mathematics. 

Enrolment is due to commence in 2017 and is planned to rise to 1200 students; students will be awarded degrees from both Birmingham and Jinan when they graduate. 

The institute was officially opened at a recent ceremony in Jinan University, Guangzhou, where a plaque was unveiled to mark the event. 

President of Jinan University Jun Hu and University of Birmingham Pro­-Vice-Chancellor Professor Andy Schofield represented the partner universities. Also in attendance were Deputy Director of Guangdong Province Education Department Zhonglin Wei and British Consul ­General in Guangzhou Matthew Rous - pictured above. 

Teaching will take place on Jinan’s new South Campus at Pan Yu, Guangzhou and will be conducted entirely in English. Staff from the University of Birmingham’s School of Mathematics will travel to Jinan to teach modules in Mathematics. 

Jinan University, established in 1906, is one of China’s elite group of the “211 Project” Universities. It has a focus on international orientation and has over 50,000 students. This type of degree programme is a first for both institutions and may be followed by similar ventures elsewhere. 

Professor Jon Frampton, Director of the University of Birmingham’s China Institute and Deputy Pro­-Vice-Chancellor (China), said: "The degree courses that the University of Birmingham will deliver together with our Jinan colleagues represent an innovative way of teaching mathematics in China. We hope that this will be the beginning of much wider engagement in both education and research between our two universities." 

Dr Nick Webber, the University of Birmingham programme director, added: "The dual degree programmes represent an exciting development for Birmingham. They enable students to take a University of Birmingham degree while studying in China." 

• The University of Birmingham is ranked amongst the world’s top 100 institutions, its work brings people from across the world to Birmingham, including researchers and teachers and more than 5,000 international students from over 150 countries. 

For more information, please contact Tony Moran, International Communications Manager, University of Birmingham on +44 (0) 121 414 8254 or  +44 (0)782 783 2312. For out-of-hours enquiries, please call +44 (0) 7789 921 165.