An agreement signed on Monday between the University of Otago and a leading Chinese University is likely to benefit students and staff from both countries.
The university signed the memorandum of understanding and a student exchange agreement with Tsinghua University, ranked one of the top two universities in China.
As part of the agreements, students and staff would collaborate in research, and fee-waived exchanges would be offered to students to spend a semester in Beijing, pro vice-chancellor (international) Sarah Todd said.
Otago had more than 100 memorandums of understanding and 90 student exchange programmes with tertiary providers which helped attract students to the university and enhanced links with other countries.
Most agreements were with institutions in North America and Europe, but there was increasing demand for closer relationships with universities in Asia, she said.
Exchanges would not be limited to Mandarin speaking students, as Tsinghua offered many programmes in English, particularly in business.
An Otago delegation to China in 2007, led by vice-chancellor Prof Sir David Skegg, helped develop the relationship and he was "delighted" with the collaboration.
"Tsinghua University is an outstanding institution which attracts brilliant students and researchers from all over China and around the world," he said.
Tsinghua University
- Established 1911.
- Has 14 schools and 56 departments with faculties in science, engineering, humanities, law, medicine, history, philosophy, economics, management, education and art.
- More than 25,900 students, including 13,100 undergraduates and 12,800 graduate students.