Ceremony Marks Approval for Preparation of Duke Kunshan University

KUNSHAN, China, Dec. 19, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- Duke University and Wuhan University were joined by Jiangsu Province today in a ceremony marking approval for preparations for Duke Kunshan University, an important step in the establishment of a world-class university for students in China.

Duke Kunshan University, a joint venture university formed by partners Duke University in Durham, North Carolina, the city of Kunshan in Jiangsu Province, China, and Wuhan University in Wuhan, Hubei, will initially offer a range of graduate degrees and undergraduate semester programs for Chinese and international students.

In addition to academic programs, DKU will house several research centers, the first of which will be a Global Health Research Center to address health issues in China and the wider region. The Center will build a program closely tied to Chinese health needs in at least three areas: chronic disease; environmental health; and health policy and systems.

Commenting on today's announcement, Prof. Liu Jingnan, Duke Kunshan University's designated Chancellor, said: "Duke Kunshan University is a bold project to drive innovation in Chinese international education. It represents a real chance to explore new models of higher education in China and sets an example for other Sino-international cooperative schools."

"Today we celebrate the shared vision and goals of all three partners and our collective belief that Duke Kunshan University will prepare its students for local and global impact," said Duke University President Richard H. Brodhead. "During the coming weeks and months, we will be focused on obtaining the final approval for the establishment of Duke Kunshan University. We are working closely with the Chinese Ministry of Education, which has been very supportive, and we look forward to soon welcoming exceptional students from China and around the world."

Duke Kunshan University also represents a key step in Wuhan University's process of globalization and its endeavor to transform into a world-class comprehensive research university with Chinese characteristics. Li Xiaohong, President of Wuhan University, said: "International cooperation has burgeoned in recent years and can be felt in all aspects of student education, scientific research and the creation of new disciplines. Duke Kunshan University is our latest investment in this innovative approach to academia and builds on our relationships with more than 300 universities and research institutes in over 40 countries and regions."

The Duke Kunshan University campus is under construction on Kunshan Yangcheng Lake Science Park, located between Shanghai and Suzhou. Kunshan has consistently been ranked China's most economically advanced county-level city and has established itself as a thriving economic center with one of the highest per capita incomes in China and one of the largest concentrations of technology companies from around the world. The establishment of Duke Kunshan University is poised to provide high quality talent for Kunshan, other cities in the Yangtze Delta and China as a whole, thus providing an essential impetus to upgrade its industry and social services.

Duke Kunshan University will be created step-by-step. Phase I (approximately the first five years) will focus on graduate degree programs, undergraduate courses and non-degree programs, and research centers. Later phases may include undergraduate degree programs and additional graduate programs and research centers.

Duke Kunshan University will blend the academic legacy and culture of Duke University with Chinese traditions, resulting in a new approach to elite, higher education in China. The partnership builds on the goals to introduce quality educational resources from foreign countries to China, first outlined in "The Outline of the National Plan for Medium and Long-term Education Reform and Development (2010-2020)."

About Duke Kunshan University

Duke Kunshan University is a partnership of Duke University, the city of Kunshan in Jiangsu Province, China, and Wuhan University to create a world-class university providing a range of academic offerings for students from China and throughout the world.

The university's rigorous academic offerings will require students to master academic material, generate new ideas, and develop creative solutions to the world's challenges, preparing them not just for careers in specific fields, but to become globally sophisticated citizens and leaders.

SOURCE Duke Kunshan University