UCC Signs Bilateral Agreement with Beijing Technology and Business University

Minister for Trade and Commerce, Mr. Michael Ahern TD, today (Thursday 19 October 2006) witnessed the signing of an agreement between University College Cork (UCC) and Beijing Technology and Business University (BTBU).

Over the last four years, UCC has been engaging in an active student recruitment campaign in China. Some 160 Chinese students are studying in UCC in the current academic year with a strong increase in the number of Chinese students recruited since the International Education Office initiated its recruitment drive in China in January 2002. With just 11 Chinese students in 2001/2002, UCC is now one of the top destinations in Ireland for Chinese students.

Speaking at the signing ceremony Minister Ahern said: “UCC has found an excellent partner in BTBU, especially given that it is a leading university in the teaching of food science and technology. UCC can be justly proud in the part it has played in Cork’s success in attracting major international companies to the region. It has been particularly successful in nurturing innovation and focusing on Research and Development projects with a large number of quality partners”, the Minister added.

“The relationship between UCC and BTBU promises to be an important model in further developing educational engagement between our two countries. I congratulate both UCC and BTBU universities for their ambitious plans for further growth and in particular the signing of this important agreement which I have no doubt will bring great success to achieving this objective”.

Signing the official agreement on behalf of UCC Professor Paul Giller, Registrar and Vice President of UCC, said: “In a short time we have built a very strong relationship with BTBU. We already have a number of Chinese students and next year we will be joined by many more BTBU students. This joint programme will allow students to study for 2 years at UCC and 2 at BTBU and will result in those students receiving degrees from both Universities”.

Also present at the official signing ceremony was Ireland’s Ambassador to China, Mr Declan Kelleher.

ENDS

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