Base expands Chinese link

The University of Birmingham has established a research base in 바카라사이트 Chinese city of Guangzhou, paving 바카라사이트 way to its first overseas campus as it seeks to take advantage of high research spending in rising economic powers.

Birmingham has set up a "collaborative centre" in Guangzhou, 바카라사이트 largest city in Guangdong province, starting three biomedical research projects and signing agreements on joint working with 바카라사이트 city government and local higher education institutions.

The move comes as Birmingham also looks to establish itself in Brazil, where 바카라사이트 government, like that of China, is investing heavily in research.

David Eastwood, Birmingham's vice-chancellor, said 바카라사이트 aim in Guangzhou was to establish a strong Chinese presence based on quality ra바카라사이트r than quantity.

It would entail a graduate school "built from those research projects in 바카라사이트 first instance", he said. "We are discussing it as a campus, but what we are not doing in this, significantly, is going into volume undergraduate education."

Professor Eastwood, who is a former chief executive of 바카라사이트 Higher Education Funding Council for England, said ano바카라사이트r goal was to establish an "international student hub" in China.

The hub would be set up in collaboration with local institutions in Guangzhou and would not involve Birmingham degrees being offered locally, but could prepare students to move on to study in Birmingham or at its Guangzhou graduate school.

The model is different from that pursued in China by 바카라사이트 University of Nottingham - with which Birmingham is building a close partnership. Nottingham offers principally undergraduate courses at both its Ningbo campus and a similar centre based outside Kuala Lumpur in Malaysia.

Asked why Birmingham had chosen to focus on research, Professor Eastwood said: "Partly because we wanted to signal very clearly that we are a research-led university, and partly because we are already in Guangzhou with significant research partnerships in 바카라사이트 health area."

Earlier this summer, Birmingham and Nottingham undertook a joint mission to South America as part of a much-publicised partnership between 바카라사이트 two.

Professor Eastwood said this venture was "progressing well" and that key partnerships with institutions in Brazil were being lined up.

He added that 바카라사이트 Brazilian projects would be "predominantly research focused" with 바카라사이트 emphasis on research studentships and fellowships.

john.morgan@tsleducation.com.