On September 12th, the Chinese Ministry of Education officially approved the establishment of Kunshan Duke University(KDU), a joint institution between Wuhan University and Duke University in the U.S. The approval was announced at a press conference in Kunshan on September 17th.
The Ministry of Education emphasized that KDU is a strong model for developing paramount Chinese universities. KDU will prepare students and scholars using innovative and internationally successful techniques, such as a unique management structure, and stronger promotion of academic freedom. It will be important in promoting the internationalization of higher education in China.
KDU plans to recruit its first batch of students forthe 2014 fall semester and offer three master degree programs in global health, medical physics and management. Successful students will be awarded a master degree by Duke University. More master degree programs will be launched in years to come.
Kunshan Duke University will also offer a “global bachelor semester program” which is a non-degree program for undergraduate students in China and abroad. Students will have the opportunity to study undergraduate courses of different disciplines and gain credits from Duke University. From 2014 to 2015, this program will include classes in global health, humanities, physics, natural science and social science, etc.
Kunshan Duke University is now taking applications for 2014 fall semester. More information about the program and application process is released on the official website of the university:www.dku.edu.cn.
Located in Kunshan’s Yangcheng Lake Science and Technology Park, the campus of Duke Kunshan Universitycovers an area of 80 hectares and is equipped with modern facilities. The university will adopt a different model for its administrative structure than most Chinese Universities by adopting a ‘president responsibility system’ under the leadership of a joint Wuhan University, Duke University and Kunshan city council. The operation of Kunshan Duke University will follow a series of guidelines geared towards meeting international standards in academic freedom and information access.
