Ⅰ. About the program
The program is a joint venture between the YSU and CU (Curtain University, Australia). It was approved by Hebei Education Department and recorded by the Ministry of Education of China. This program was approved by Chinese-Foreign Cooperation in Running Schools, People's Republic of China in 2013. YSU enrolls 15-20 students per year, which is incorporated into the national enrollment plan. The 3-year graduate program in Electrical Engineering is a “1+1+1” training program. Upon graduation, students obtain a graduation certificate in Electrical Engineering and a master’s diploma in Engineering from YSU. They also earn a master’s diploma in Engineering from CU.
Ⅱ. Teaching management
Since the initiation of the program, YSU and CU organized a joint management committee to work out teaching plan, curriculum and teaching management plan.
YSU and CU have discussed and agreed upon curriculum, teaching approaches, and project management; student registration and management; ensuring teaching quality; providing teaching facilities, classrooms, foreign teachers’ offices, library, computers and Internet facilities; and sending teachers to CU for training and studying.
CU has finished the following work: discussing with YSU in terms of curriculum, teaching approaches, project management, and students; will provide guidance and help to YSU in terms of: curriculum planning; providing textbooks, teaching materials, course evaluation methods and standards; accepting students who meet the requirements to study for a master's degree at CU; sending teachers to YSU to teach; and arranging teaching and training courses in related fields for visiting teachers from YSU.
Ⅲ. Financial management
When studying at YSU, students pay tuition in accordance with the standard approved by Hebei Provincial Government, and they don’t pay any fees to CU. The YSU Finance Department manages fees and costs of the program and special funds that are spent on teaching activities and improvement of teaching conditions. YSU strictly adheres to relevant government rules and regulations. Fees charged by YSU are all approved by Hebei Price Bureau and the expenditure follows the current financial system and non-profit principle.
Ⅳ. Social evaluation
The roots of YSU go back to Harbin Institute of Technology (HIT) which was founded in 1920. YSU was identified as one of the 88 key institutions of higher education in China in 1978. Now, YSU has a total of 38,000 students. Electrical Engineering and Automation, affiliated with the College of Electrical Engineering, is entitled to grant first-level doctoral degrees and master’s degrees, and it houses the Hebei Key Laboratory of Power Electronics and Power Transmission. Electrical Engineering and Automation enrolls 5-8 doctoral candidates and more than 100 master’s degree candidates annually, and trains on-the-job master’s degree candidates for business. Graduates are mainly employed by the National Grid and power research companies, which demonstrates their ability and innovative qualities.
Founded in 1967, CU currently has more than 40,000 students from 105 countries at home and abroad, ranking 3rd in Australia. At present, CU is the only comprehensive university in Australia to provide Electrical Engineering courses. Students majoring in Electrical Engineering, with excellent professional skills gained through internships and a good reputation in the industry, are employed by many well-known large companies before graduation. According to the Australian Education Union, the employment rate of Electrical Engineering graduates in CU is about 95%.
The cooperation between YSU and CU maximizes their respective advantages. In addition to students' professional skills, the program also focuses on their ability in cross-cultural communication, and competition and cooperation from an international perspective. In 2016, 19 students were admitted, and YSU created a learning platform for students to meet the requirements of English proficiency by introducing English courses from CU. Surveys show that students have a high degree of satisfaction with curriculum arrangement, teaching content and teaching approaches. The number of applicants is increasing, which indicates that this project’s value has been recognized by students.
Ⅴ. School Characteristics and Direction
YSU aims to train high-quality graduates who are application-oriented, inter-disciplinary and innovative, with global vision and a competitive edge. So it recognizes that Chinese-Foreign cooperative education is one of the development strategies for the internationalization of higher education. YSU introduces application-oriented courses from Australia, so students of this program have a solid foundation, professional skills and global vision, which is an advantage for further study or employment.
Through this program, YSU draws in high-quality educational resources. Teachers from CU are responsible for 5 courses in the program, providing textbooks, teaching materials, and test papers. Based on this, YSU continues to make improvements in the curriculum and teaching methods.
YSU sent excellent teachers to CU for further study to enhance mutual understanding of the program, which has greatly elevated the internationalization of YSU faculty. CU teachers also came to YSU and gave several lectures, which promoted more meaningful exchanges and cooperation in scientific research.
After 3 years, the program has made achievements. YSU is committed to international cooperation, improving the quality and scientific research level of graduates, and to constructing a well-developed discipline.
