Coventry University Group has been pursuing a strategy of teaching more students overseas through partnerships with prestigious institutions in their home countries. This allows the Group to widen access to its quality education and mitigate the fall in the number of students who want to come, or are allowed to come, to the UK.
The majority of the graduating students were awarded a BSc in Computer Science with Artificial Intelligence (AI), while a further 13 students completed MA Design Management programmes, including six dual-degree students and seven single-degree Coventry University award students.
Jasmine Samra, Pro-Vice-Chancellor (Partnerships) at Coventry University, Guy Dru Drury, Regional Managing Director (China Hub) for Coventry University Group, and Fredrik Marcowitz, Academic Director (CUC-CC), joined the celebrations in Hainan.
Pro-Vice-Chancellor Samra said: “This is a landmark moment for Coventry University and our collaboration with the Communication University of China. The graduation of our first undergraduate cohort reflects how quickly this collaboration has grown in scale, quality and impact.
“Through this joint institute we are bringing high-quality, practice-based education to students in China and opening up access to an international degree experience for learners from a wide range of backgrounds who may not otherwise have the opportunity to study overseas.
“We are incredibly proud of our graduates and look forward to seeing the positive impact they will make to industry, their communities and wider society.”
Coventry University Group’s global network spans its joint institute in Hainan alongside campuses in Coventry, London and Scarborough, as well as international sites in Poland, Kazakhstan and Egypt. This is supported by hubs across Singapore, India, Africa and China, and partnerships with more than 150 universities worldwide.
The Hainan institute is Coventry University’s only joint institute in China and has grown steadily since its launch, reflecting strong demand for transnational education.
Professor John Latham CBE, Coventry University Vice-Chancellor and Group CEO, expects that growth to continue in China, with our graduate numbers projected to double next year. This is due to the first cohort of BA Product Design students completing their four-year programme, alongside the existing Computer Science with AI cohort.
Vice-Chancellor Latham said: “Our joint institute is a strong example of how international collaboration can expand access to high-quality education.
“We are proud to work alongside the Communication University of China, whose expertise and shared commitment to student success have been central to the growth of this collaboration.
“We are delivering UK higher education to students where they are, reflecting a wider shift towards more flexible, globally connected learning.
“Our approach combines global academic standards with local relevance, working in collaboration with local educators and governments to equip students with the skills needed to succeed in fast-growing sectors such as artificial intelligence and design.”
Professor Chai Jianping, Communication University of China’s Vice President, said: “We have forged a close, successful partnership with Coventry University and because of this shared dedication, our educational mission in Hainan has flourished.
“This landmark graduation marks a brand new chapter for our partnership and an exciting starting point for our students to pursue their dreams.
“Our inaugural class of Hainan International College have witnessed this campus grow from an empty plot of land into a thriving academic community. They didn't just study here, they helped shape the very identity of this college. They should never minimize those experiences as they are exactly what shaped them into the resilient, courageous and hardworking individuals they are today.”
