Delegations from Oxford Brookes University visit Global Teaching Partnerships in China and Kenya

Two delegations of senior representatives from Oxford Brookes University recently travelled to China and Kenya to attend graduation ceremonies at Chengdu University of Technology and Nairobi Hospice.

In both countries, students were awarded dual degrees from their home university and Oxford Brookes. 
Professor Alistair Fitt, Vice-Chancellor of Oxford Brookes, visited Chengdu University of Technology, located in China’s central Sichuan Province, alongside Professor Joe Tah, Pro Vice-Chancellor, Dean of the Faculty of Technology, Design and Environment, and Professor Tim Vorley, Pro Vice-Chancellor, Dean of Oxford Brookes Business School. 

They were accompanied by Professor Nigel Crook and Professor Sarah Quinton, both Associate Deans Research and Knowledge Exchange, Dr Sara Hannam, Associate Dean Strategy and Development, Oxford Brookes Business School, who was also representing the University’s Global Partnerships Team, and Professor Donald Ridley, Associate Dean Strategy and Development, Faculty of Health and Life Sciences. 

A senior delegation of university leaders and academics from Chengdu University visited Oxford Brookes’ Headington Campus in May. 

Speaking at the first graduation ceremony in Chengdu since the start of the Covid pandemic, Professor Fitt said: “At Oxford Brookes we take much pride in the fact that we are a global university, and that students from over 140 countries choose to study with us - both in Oxford, and all over the world. I am proud that our two universities are working so closely with each other to support students and their families to develop, through education and by progressing their careers.”

Oxford Brookes started its partnership with Chengdu University Of Technology in 2016 and there are currently 2,200 students studying on Brookes/Chengdu dual degree programmes. Oxford Brookes currently offers four programmes in Chengdu; BA (Hons) Business Management, BSc (Hons) Accountancy, BSc (Hons) Software Engineering, and BSc (Hons) Computer Science. Oxford Brookes hosts exchange staff and scholars from Chengdu, promoting international collaboration. This year 200 students graduated, including students who completed their courses during the pandemic. 

Following the graduation ceremony, the visiting delegation toured the Chengdu University of Technology campus and visited Chengdu Natural History Museum and the Chengdu Future Science and Technology City.  Discussions also took place between the two universities on plans for new joint programmes and research initiatives. 

Oxford Brookes University has Global Teaching Partnerships across multiple continents and countries including China, Greece, Sri Lanka and Kenya. 

Professor Astrid Schloerscheidt, Pro Vice-Chancellor, Dean of the Faculty of Health and Life Sciences at Oxford Brookes, and Dave Roberts, Senior Lecturer at the Oxford School of Nursing and Midwifery, visited Nairobi Hospice in Kenya. Nairobi Hospice, in collaboration with Oxford Brookes, offers a Diploma of Higher Education in Palliative Care.

Professor Schloerscheidt’s trip to Kenya included the graduation ceremony for the Nairobi Hospice students. She said: “It was an honour to see 20 students, including one from Ethiopia, graduate at the Nairobi Hospice. These are pioneering graduates who are working to develop palliative care services in Kenya and beyond. We hope the knowledge and skills they have gained from the Diploma in Palliative Care will support them in the important work they are doing and that will make a difference to many people in Kenya and the wider continent.”