China's Peking University to open its branch at Oxford campus

BEIJING: China's Peking University will start staff recruitment and student enrolment for its British campus at the Oxford city in June to become the first Chinese varsity to open a branch abroad.

The university purchased the 15-acre campus in Oxford for 8.8 million pounds ($10 million) after signing with the Open University in February.

This was the first time a Chinese university had used its own finance to set up and manage a school in a foreign country, according to Hai Wen, dean of HSBC Business School.

He said the school would enroll 100 international students when it opens in August 2018, state-run Xinhua news agency reported.

It will coincide with the 120th founding anniversary of the elite Beijing university.

"The timing is monumental. In 1818, China's first foreign-founded school Ying Wa College was set up by a British missionary. Now 200 years later, a Chinese university will set up its own school in Britain," Hai said.

Noting that in recent years many foreign universities had opened schools in China, Hai said Peking University as one of China's top universities should play a leading role for the country's varsities to go global.

He said HSBC Business School's finance, management and economics courses will feature Chinese business cases to help students become better acquainted with the Chinese economy and reforms.

Students will take the first year course in the Oxford campus and the second year at the school's campus in the city of Shenzhen, southern China.

Students on the school's Shenzhen campus will be allowed to select elective courses on the Oxford campus.