Debrecen4U July 6, 2026

University of Debrecen to Launch Course in Collaboration with Chinese Universities

The University of Debrecen has signed cooperation agreements with two Chinese universities to establish joint degree programmes, expected to commence in 2027. The agreements were signed on Thursday with the leadership of the Beijing Institute of Technology and the East China University of Technology.

The cooperation will involve the Faculty of Science and Technology and the Faculty of Informatics. Academic staff from the University of Debrecen will participate in the education of Chinese students, while the university will also welcome international students to Debrecen.

“The University of Debrecen aims to open up new directions within its educational portfolio together with these two higher education institutions. We would like to deliver our programmes, either partly or even entirely, in China through joint initiatives. As a result, the University of Debrecen’s student population could increase by around 1,000 over the coming years,” highlighted Acting Vice-Rector for International Affairs Attila Jenei.

The institutions have developed four joint programmes focusing on geoinformatics, materials science, computer science and artificial intelligence. “We are particularly pleased that the Beijing Institute of Technology approached us with the idea of launching a joint programme in materials science. This field forms the foundation of modern industrial development. The programmes are currently being developed, and our academic staff are prepared. We expect the courses to begin in September 2027,” the Acting Vice-Rector told hirek.unideb.hu.

Acting Scientific Vice-President and Dean of the Faculty of Science and Technology Ferenc Kun emphasised that the programmes will prioritise in-person teaching. For this reason, lecturers from the University of Debrecen will deliver classes in China, while students from China will later come to Debrecen to further deepen their knowledge. “The Beijing Institute of Technology trains highly qualified specialists in materials science for Chinese industry, particularly for the battery sector. The East China University of Technology is a broad-based engineering institution, and it shares the University of Debrecen’s vision that education should be built on a strong scientific foundation. An important element of the programme is that we have succeeded in involving the Chinese industrial companies operating in Debrecen, providing students with opportunities for practical training. In addition, these companies will contribute specialist professionals to the programmes, and we are also planning joint research projects,” Professor Ferenc Kun pointed out.

Weitao Gao, Vice-President of the Beijing Institute of Technology, expressed confidence that through joint efforts China will be able to provide internationally operating companies with highly qualified professionals built on a solid educational foundation. “China’s Ministry of Education has approved our joint materials science programme for HUF 120 students. The Beijing Institute of Technology and the University of Debrecen both possess outstanding educational resources. We believe that through our joint efforts we will be able to nurture even more talent for emerging technologies,” the Vice-President emphasised.

The Beijing Institute of Technology is regarded as one of China’s leading research universities and has operated in the capital since 1940. It focuses on engineering and the natural sciences and maintains strong links with China’s defence and aerospace industries. It is an important centre for training future engineers and researchers.

Like the University of Debrecen, the East China University of Technology places strong emphasis on computer science education and the development of artificial intelligence. “Both parties attach great importance to this programme. We believe that our human and educational resources will deepen our cooperation and that this new institution will become an excellent base for nurturing talented students,” said Vice-President Du Zhu of the East China University of Technology.

The East China University of Technology is China’s first university specialising in nuclear energy, founded in 1958, with its main campus located in Nanchang. Its research laboratories primarily support developments in the nuclear industry. In addition to nuclear engineering, the university is also well known for its engineering and environmental science programmes. It has approximately 30,000 students and also offers English-language programmes for international students.

The delegation was accompanied by Sha Rao, founder of the iStudy Education Group agency, which has served as the University of Debrecen’s student recruitment partner in China for more than 20 years. “We see that the University of Debrecen is regarded as one of the most popular institutions in our country. More than 300 students apply to the University of Debrecen each year. I encourage students to apply here not only because of its historic traditions and outstanding academic staff, but also because of the attention it pays to international students. Its industrial partnerships also create new opportunities,” the agency’s founder stressed.

Representatives of Chinese industrial companies operating in Debrecen that have joined the training programme – CATL, EVE Power and SEMCORP – also attended the formal signing ceremony.

After their arrival in Debrecen on Wednesday, delegation members were first introduced to the educational structure, strategic objectives and research activities of the Faculty of Science and Technology. They then visited the laboratories in the University’s Chemistry Building and the Institute for Nuclear Research at Bem Square, as well as several industrial companies operating in the city.

Source: dehir.hu | Photo credit: Debrecen városa (Facebook)