Photo: From Left – Lawrence Gu, Dean International BCIT, Honourable Justin Trudeau, Prime Minister of Canada, Doug Callbeck, Vice-President Industry Partnerships BCIT, Yao Li, Vice Presidents, ZIG.
A new International Joint Educational Partnership Program between the British Columbia Institute of Technology (BCIT) and Three Gorges Polytechnic University (TGPU) took flight in China last week at the Commercial Signing Ceremony – organized as part of the official visit to China by the Right Honourable Justin Trudeau, Prime Minister of Canada.
Witnessed by Canada’s Minister of International Trade, the Honorable Chrystia Freeland, BCIT signed an educational agreement with Three Gorges Polytechnic University (TGPU), a subsidiary of Zongshen Industry Group (ZIG), a multi-national Chinese corporation located in Chongqing. ZIG and BCIT partners were then congratulated in-person by Prime Minister Justin Trudeau.
Under the agreement, BCIT will provide curriculum and comprehensive teacher training to Three Gorges Polytechnic University in the automotive and aviation sectors. These tools will assist Three Gorges Polytechnic University in providing world-class technologists for the growing automotive and aviation industries in China.
A BCIT International diploma will be issued to students that meet all the requirements established by BCIT upon graduation. BCIT anticipates that the program will grow to accommodate more than 1,000 students each year.
“BCIT is proud to be at the forefront of education and innovation, not only here in BC, but nationally and internationally.” said BCIT President Kathy Kinloch. “Through our exciting partnership with Three Gorges Polytechnic University, BCIT’s unique applied education model will be preparing students for success in China, and around the world.”
“The Three Gorges Polytechnic University looks forward to becoming a leader in polytechnic education and a pragmatic training provider in China through partnering with BCIT,” said Yi Chen, Chairman of TGPU. “BCIT’s model of applied education will be critical for China’s economic development by supplying the most needed human capital.”
About the British Columbia Institute of Technology
For over 50 years, the British Columbia Institute of Technology (BCIT) has been the leader among Canadian post-secondary institutions. BCIT is one of British Columbia’s largest post-secondary institutes, with five campuses educating more than 48,000 students in over 300 applied, hands-on programs each year. BCIT’s credentials range from Certificates and Diplomas, to Bachelor and Master’s degrees in areas such as Applied and Natural Sciences, Business and Media, Computing and IT, Engineering, Health Sciences, and Trades and Apprenticeships. Our programs are developed with leading employers and industry associations and our instructors have years of industry expertise and professional designations. With a history of excellence in applied education and research, industry partnerships, and economic impact, BCIT is developing real-world solutions born from real-world challenges. BCIT welcomed over 3,100 international students from 90 countries in 2015/16 with over 40% from China. Learn more at bcit.ca.
About Zongshen Industry Group
ZIG consists of a group of large-scale enterprises, with total assets of $5 billion and a revenue of $4 billion in 2014. It has nearly 13,000 employees with staff and offices in North America, the Middle East, and Europe. It is one of the largest non-state-owned enterprises in China in terms of sales volume and service areas. Recently, ZIG became the biggest shareholder of the BC company, Harbour Air. It is in the process of establishing a similar airline in China. The Three Gorges Polytechnic University represents a $150 million investment into a vertical education compliment. The new campus will consolidate five satellite campus operations and will ensure ZIG has a sustainable supply of technical personnel for new business developments in the Automotive and Aviation sectors. ZIG has a wide range of businesses varying from equipment manufacturing, real estate, car and vehicle dealerships, mining, and financial investment. ZIG is one of the largest general power machinery manufacturers in the world, and is ranked among the Top 50 Privately-run Businesses in China, the Top 500 Enterprises in China, and the Top 500 Manufacturers in China.