China Institute Key Partnerships

In September 2017, the UoB established the J-BJI with Jinan University, Guangzhou. The J-BJI currently delivers four dual bachelor degrees in Applied Mathematics with either Economics, Statistics, Mathematics, or Information Computing Science. With over 1000 students studying on our Panyu campus each year, the programmes allow Chinese students to experience both international and local teaching methods. Graduates receive degrees from both institutions.

Find out more about the J-BJI programmes on offer.

In September 2025, we are delighted to welcome our first cohort of students to our Joint Education Programme with Huazhong University of Science and Technology offering degrees in Biomedical Science and Pharmacy. This programme will bring together our strength in Biomedical Sciences and HUST’s expertise in Pharmacy to deliver a unique educational experience for Chinese students.

Located in the new HUST International Campus in Wuhan, students will study both programmes in parallel, gaining knowledge and experience in both subjects over a shorter amount of time than would be required if studying the individual degree programmes. This means that students will have exposure to different study and teaching techniques as well as benefiting from the wide range of expertise held by the international team of teaching staff.

• Discover more about the HUST-Birmingham partnership
• Students, find out more about studying with the University of Birmingham and HUST
• Explore more about working with us on the Joint Programme

In November 2016, we formed a strategic partnership with JITRI, fostering collaboration on pioneering research in critical areas such as nano-particle technology, biomedicine, sustainable recycling solutions, and low-carbon energy innovations. This partnership has paved the way for the creation of a £2.7 million fund by JITRI, which has supported six research projects. Among these, a notable achievement was the launch of a spin-out company in collaboration with the Nanjing Borui Life Science Research Institute. Led by Professor Yu Sun, Professor of Biomedical Engineering at Southeast China University (SEU) and Honorary Professor in Psychology at UoB, this institute leverages imaging, data science, and device development, alongside educational policy strategies, to advance research with a goal of enhancing brain health for patients in China and beyond SEU.

For more information on this partnership, please contact Professor Zhibing Zhang, Co-Director of the UoB China Institute: z.zhang@bham.ac.uk

Over the past decade, we have built a strong partnership with the First Affiliated Hospital of Sun Yat-sen University (FAH-SYSU), fostering collaborations across various fields such as clinical trials and general practice training. A major project launched in 2022 focuses on community-based cohort studies, clinical trials, and advancing research in geriatrics (PI: Professor KK Cheng). Since its inception, this project has achieved solid progress and reached key milestones, positioning it as a cornerstone of our joint efforts.

Through this partnership we are able to tackle global health challenges like healthy aging, chronic disease management, and integration of medical care with preventive strategies. In response to ageing populations, we have interests in multimorbidity, perioperative care, and immunology and health information for the elderly, providing fresh insights for healthy ageing strategies. On chronic disease management, we work on cardiovascular disease, diabetes, and chronic kidney disease, developing new approaches that improve health management and outcomes. We are also conducting studies on integrating preventive measures with clinical treatment. Trials on smoking cessation and gestational diabetes highlight the importance of combining prevention with care for better public health

For more information, please contact Professor KK Cheng: K.K.Cheng@bham.ac.uk

Since 2016 we have been collaborating with Nanjing University and Phoenix Publishing and Media Group in a unique engagement – the Shakespeare Centre, China – which sees the University’s world-renowned Shakespeare Institute reach out to millions of Chinese people to increase access to, and understanding of, Shakespeare. Joint projects have included:

• The first Chinese translations of 24 major Shakespeare plays.
• Youlin Yorke Cup Students’ Shakespeare (China) Festival - the first pan-Chinese competitive festival of Shakespearean performance ever to be staged in China
• Celebration of the 400th birthday of the first collected edition of Shakespeare’s plays, the First Folio
• Discover more about our collaboration with Nanjing University or contact Professor Michael Dobson, Director of the Shakespeare Institute: m.dobson@bham.ac.uk

The establishment of Nanjing Borui Life Science Research Institute (BRI) is based on the support of the University of Birmingham, Southeast University Joint Research Centre for Biomedical Engineering, and Nanjing Jiangning Development Zone High-Tech Industrial Park. This new research institute is a high-tech industry university research platform founded by a Chinese-British team led by Professor Yu Sun. The institute has a high-level R&D and innovation team and aims to focus on intelligent medical engineering, medical imaging, brain science, and brain health. The institute objective is to explore the industrialization of high-end scientific research and technological innovation deriving from these principle areas.

For more information contact Prof Jon Frampton, Deputy Pro Vice Chancellor (China) and Director of University of Birmingham’s China Institute: j.frampton@bham.ac.uk