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Monash is first Australian university to launch in China

An artist’s impression of the Southeast University-Monash University Joint Graduate School in Suzhou, near Shanghai. Monash University

Monash University has become the first Australian institution to receive a license to operate in China, and will start welcoming students to its purpose-built graduate school near Shanghai later this year.

Under a partnership with China’s Southeast University, Monash will establish a foothold in the world’s second biggest economy with a range of postgraduate degrees for more than 1400 students.

Following recent endorsement by China’s Ministry of Education, the Southeast University-Monash University Joint Graduate School (Suzhou) will take on its first students later this year.

Located in Suzhou, near Shanghai, the Graduate School will feature postgraduate courses in nanotechnology, biomedicine, environmental science, transportation, industrial design, economics, software, thermal and mechanical engineering, among other disciplines.

Students will graduate with degrees from both Southeast University and Monash.

Vice-Chancellor and President of Monash University, Professor Ed Byrne, said the partnership “allows us to prepare students to be international citizens, equipped to meet the rigours of a workforce in transition.

"China has one of the fastest growing economies in the world, with an impressive record of innovation. This makes it an ideal location for a progressive university such as Monash.”

Dean of the Monash Faculty of Engineering and Vice-President of the University’s Indian and Chinese Initiative, Professor Tam Sridhar, said the teaching strengths of Southeast University complemented those at Monash.

“This agreement reflects SEU’s understanding of Monash University’s research and education excellence,” Professor Sridhar said.

The Graduate School will accept 350 masters students and 150 doctoral candidates each year, building to a capacity of more than 1400 by 2017.

Southeast University is ranked among the top 500 universities globally and is one of the oldest institutions of higher learning in China.

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