Far-Flung Partnership

The 94 students enrolled in the joint Chongqing/UAlbany computer sciences program are pictured with faculty and staff.

ALBANY, N.Y. (November 1, 2016) — The University at Albany has entered into an academic partnership with Chongqing University of Posts and Telecommunications that will bring Chongqing students to the UAlbany campus for the last of their four-year program in computer science and software engineering.

The program will allow Chongqing University students to obtain two degrees in four years, and will provide UAlbany faculty and students with opportunities for internships, research and project engagement at the university.

Chongqing University and UAlbany launched the first cohort of the "3+1" program in fall 2016 with 94 students. Starting in spring 2017, Chongqing students' first three years will feature instruction each semester by UAlbany faculty on the Chongqing campus. The students will spend their fourth year at the University at Albany campus under the instruction of faculty from the College of Engineering and Applied Sciences.

Pictured left to right are: UAlbany's Dean of International Education Harvey Charles; Chongqing University's Vice President for Research and Foreign Affairs Chen Qianbin; and UAlbany’s College of Engineering and Applied Sciences Dean Kim Boyer.

The outcome is two degrees — computer science from UAlbany and software engineering from Chongqing University.

"The University at Albany is very pleased to be partnered with Chongqing University of Posts and Telecommunications in this dual degree program," said Harvey Charles, UAlbany's dean for International Education and Vice Provost for Global Strategy. "This strategic partnership will allow for the students enrolled in this program to ultimately earn a bachelor's degree in computer science from UAlbany as well as a bachelor's degree in software engineering from their home institution. In addition to this partnership, UAlbany students will be able to pursue internship and research opportunities in the city of Chongqing and UAlbany faculty will be able to teach at CQUPT and engage in research projects with CQUPT faculty."

Charles said the agreement is part of China's strategy to partner with U.S. institutions to bring Western and American principles of education, practices and pedagogical theory to Chinese education systems.

“Modern engineering is a global endeavor, with research and development teams often distributed over two or more continents,” said Kim Boyer, dean of UAlbany’s College of Engineering and Applied Sciences. “Our joint program with CQUPT has been developed in acknowledgment of that fact, and as a way to prepare students from both institutions for that reality. The value of our program with CQUPT goes well beyond the fiscal, as our students and theirs will have the opportunity to grow culturally, as well as scientifically, as they learn to explore technical concepts, develop ideas, and function effectively in a multicultural environment. This program represents a significant step on the road to building a College of Engineering and Applied Sciences with a strong international presence.”

For more news, subscribe to UAlbany's RSS headline feeds