University News Last updated 17 December 2015
Birmingham Institute of Fashion and Creative Art will be officially launched in China this week to an audience including nearly 300 headmasters from schools across Hubei.
The Institute, a partnership between Birmingham City University (UK) and Wuhan Textile University, is the first non-profit Chinese-foreign cooperatively run educational institution in the province to offer undergraduate programmes.
Birmingham City University is one of just 63 universities in the world to be given the green light to set up a jointly run higher education institute in China.
Over the next seven years more than 3,500 students are expected to study at the Institute in Wuhan, which will offer degrees in subjects including Art, Design and Media.
On Monday 21 December, the headmasters from local secondary schools and art training centres will be briefed about the disciplines offered by the Institute at Wuhan Textile University, as well as its state-of-the-art facilities – including the latest 3D design and media production equipment – contained in a completely refurbished 10,000m² building. There will also be the opportunity to take part in group and individual discussions with University representatives.
Professor Bashir Makhoul, Pro-Vice-Chancellor at Birmingham City University will address invited guests at the launch next week, showcasing the benefits a degree from the Institute can provide. He said:
"China's creative arts sector has grown more than 60 times over the last 10 years, now accounting for four per cent of the country’s overall wealth and helping to diversify its markets. Our leading professors and practitioners will work to ensure graduates are equipped with the necessary skills and a global outlook, making them best placed to thrive in this growing industry."
Professor Bashir Makhoul has also been invited to give a contemporary art public lecture on Tuesday 22 December at Wuhan Textile University. Titled 'Dilemma of Identity', the lecture will be attended by some of the most famous artists in China, including Leng Jun.
Wuhan Textile University is already recognised for its creative arts and has been crowned China's top fashion university for the last 15 years. Furthermore, Wuhan is ranked 31 globally for fashion and places within the top five in Asia, according to the 'Textile Fashion' journal.
Applicants can apply to study at the Birmingham Institute of Fashion and Creative Art through the Chinese 'Gaokao' system, with the first intake of 300 students commencing courses from September 2016. In 2016, the Institute will offer three undergraduate programmes: BA (Hons) Visual Communication, BA (Hons) Landscape Archtecture and BSc (Hons) Digital Media Technology. Students also have the option of spending half of their studies in the UK at Birmingham City University's brand new City Centre Campus.
The launch in Wuhan will be preceded by the University's first international alumni reception, which will take place on Saturday 19 December and hosted by Professor Bashir Makhol in Shanghai.
Held at the Academy of International Visual Arts, the event will give graduates the opportunity to hear about the highlights of the University's year and its plans for the future.
Professor Makhoul added:
"The reception in Shanghai will offer a chance for guests to network with other alumni of the University in China and share their successes since graduating. We are immensely proud of all our alumni and I am looking forward to updating our Chinese graduates on the latest developments of the University, both in China and back in the UK.
"The occasion will also see us launch our Chinese Alumni Ambassador Scheme. As well as supporting our work in mainland China, we are encouraging alumni to share their experience with future Birmingham City University students and advise them on what courses and career options are available to them."
Birmingham City University has nearly 2,400 Chinese alumni with many holding prominent positions in the creative arts, including Fei Liu, who was a previous winner of 'Harper's Bazaar China' Designer of the Year award.