To further promote the cooperation between University of Southampton (UOS) and Xiamen University (XMU), the XMU president Zhu Chongshi received the UOS president Don Nutbeam and the visiting group in the conference room 215 in Songen Building in Siming Campus on May 8. They signed a letter of intent about cooperative education between UOS and the International College of XMU.

The letter of intent clarified that Faculty of Humanities of UOS and the International College of XMU would implement this programme together, and make great efforts to cooperate in the following aspects. They promised to enhance the strategic partnership, set pre-sessional course, and develop some other forms of collaboration, such as setting combined preparatory program, master degree preparatory program and doctor degree preparatory program.

On the ceremony, both sides reviewed the historical exchanges, explored further development of their partnership and collaborative fields, and happily reached agreement on such issues.

It is known that the International College is the first college of XMU to start educational cooperation. In 2008, the International College signed the agreement with UOS, setting 1+1 Master of Education programme and 2+2 Bachelor of Art Design programme. So far 102 students have been to the UOS for further education, among whom 43 students come from Master of Education programme and 59 students come from Bachelor of Art Design programme. It is satisfying that 63 students have finished their study to come back to China and most of them have found excellent jobs or started up. The International College has been well-reputed by a large number of students, parents, UOS and our society.

Moreover, the International College actively introduced part of courses of UOS and sent teachers to be on a visit. The pre-sessional course of UOS has been applied into the teaching practice and made obvious effects.

Vice president of UOS Adam Wheeler put forward an idea of establishing the English language center of UOS in XMU during the visit to XMU in November, 2012. In March, 2013 the president of UOS visited XMU and discussed this issue profoundly. After that, UOS sent the letter of intent about this programme in May, 2014, and in the end both sides sign it today.

Through the discussion and communication with Faculty of Humanities of UOS about many details of this programme, the language center is about to formally founded in September this year. The programme is about to established in the International College, Xiang’an campus of XMU. Faculty of Humanities of UOS will send their faculty team to give some lectures, and the International College will provide various teaching facilities and related faculty to complete the programme. This programme enrolls students within the range of the whole country, and introduces EAP and EAS of pre-sessional course, and some related academic writing skills. All of the courses can lay a solid foundation for the students who are going to UOS for further education. Once students from the International College successfully complete recognized programmes, they may be admitted to UOS for other courses. The success of this programme means another big breakthrough in interschool exchange.

In addition, the letter of intent mentioned that on the baisis of pre-sessional programme, both sides could go on collaborating on master degree preparatory program and doctor degree preparatory program, which means the win-win result of this educational cooperation, is really successful and the two sides can continue to develop such programs.

In the end of the ceremony, dean Chris Sinclair and director Thom Bull of language center of UOS went to Xiang’an campus to discuss more details of the cooperative programs with the leaders of the International College.