faculty of arts

center for japan studies

06-07-2018 |06-07-2018 | 1

UG’s Branch campus in
Yantai, China: a continuing
process…
Janny de Jong,
University of Groningen
NIAD-QE University Quality Assurance Forum & Open Seminar 2018
‘Universities Crossing Borders’1

06-07-2018 |Outline
1.Why did the University of Groningendecide to start a branch university in
Yantai?
§ Aims and prospects
2.What were the challenges§ Financial strategy and financial plan
§ Staffing§ Legal issues
3.Why and when was the plan withdrawn,
to be continued on a smaller scale?
4. Conclusion2

06-07-2018 |1.Why did the University of Groningen decideto start a branch university in Yantai?

25 March 2015, signing of the Tripartite agreement, Shanghai3

06-07-2018 |Memorandum of agreement4

06-07-2018 |In Groningen:› June 2015: UG’s
University
Council agrees
with continuationof thenegotiations› For issuing Dutch
diploma’s
overseas the law
on Higher
education needs
to be changed,
this takes time.

5

06-07-2018 |26 October 2015, signing of the financial
agreement, in the presence of the Dutch King andthe Chinese president

6

06-07-2018 |Why?
› Knowledge on a global level› Global issues demand global responses(climate change, conflicts, financial crises)› But then:› Why China?

7

06-07-2018 |China› Chinese Policy to attract international
universities. 10 designated cities. NingboNottingham was first branch campus in China.
› Yantai eager to attract a top university.Highlyqualified personnel needed for factories andlaboratories.
› Finances: costs for reconstruction andequipment of the campus, ( 300 million euro)rent, housing, supporting staff, costs of gas
and electricity to be paid by Chinese partners

8

06-07-2018 |9

Promoting the project

https://youtu.be/IkPWBbYP7PM

06-07-2018 | 10

Promoting the project› Freedom of expression, free access to internet,‘our values’› Clean air, nice climate› Beautiful campus, great facilities, inclusive
community› Business prospects

06-07-2018 | 11

“why does the UG go to China?"

https://youtu.be/7XOJEESP_BI

06-07-2018 | 12

Brochure on collaboration University ofGroningen with Chinese partners

https://www.rug.nl/about-us/internationalization/brochure-eng_def.pdf

Groningen: “Internationalizationis essential”

06-07-2018 | 13

06-07-2018 | 14

https://www.nuffic.nl/en/publications/find-apublication/international-degree-students-inthe-netherlands-a-regional-analysis.pdf

06-07-2018 | 15

06-07-2018 | 16

Where do students from Asia study in theNetherlands?

06-07-2018 | 17

New enrolments International degree students/type of
institution/type of education

https://www.nuffic.nl

Sibrand Poppema, president UG:

06-07-2018 | 18

› “It will be a broadly-based university withresearch-intensive teaching at the samehigh level as at the UG.
› Top quality research facilities will generate
opportunities for fundamental research and forcollaboration with the business world.
› It will be an international campus, withresearchers and students from China, theNetherlands and the rest of the world”
introduction brochure06-07-2018 | 19

Planning of a broad research university› Start: 4 Bachelor’s programmes and 2 Master’sprogrammes ( FSE, Spatial Sciences).
§ Bachelor’s degree programmes in Chemistry,Industrial Engineering & Management, Life
Sciences & Technology and Mathematics.
Aim: attract 100 students to each Bachelor’sprogramme§ Master's programmes in Chemical Engineeringand Environmental and Infrastructure Planning.
Aim: attract 50 to each Master’s programme
Ultimately: additional degree programmes fromdifferent faculties, in total : 20 Bachelor’sprogrammes and 10 Master’s programmes.

06-07-2018 | 20

2. What were the challenges› Adjustment Law on Higher Education necessary
for issuing diploma's abroadnd Chamber votes in favour of§ 23 February 2
this change› Criticism and doubts in Groningen: is theproject financially sound? Staffing?
› Quality assurance of teaching and research inChina§ How independent is teaching/ research? Whywill a secretary of the Party have a seat in
the Board of UGY?

06-07-2018 | 21

Staff?

https://www.theguardian.com/higher-educationnetwork/2014/jul/22/ukacademics-would-youteach-in-china

06-07-2018 | 22

May 2017› 48 UG Board, staff and students visit Yantai

06-07-2018 | 23

Public debate, questions in parliament06-07-2018 | 24

Commotion about the Party
secretary
Fu Zetian, leader
Yantai project, China

06-07-2018 | 25

De Volkskrant,
14-1-2018› I do notunderstand thecommotion about
the secretary of theParty. According to
your own
democratic
principles wecertainly have theright to propagate
our own politicalviews at our ownschool.

06-07-2018 | 26

Academic freedom branch
campuses?

,p. 13

University Council in majority does notsupport UGY

06-07-2018 | 27

› “the University
Board always
pointed solely tothe positiveelements’’06-07-2018 | 28

3. Why and when was the plan withdrawn, tobe continued on a smaller scale
Jammer dat Yantai niet
doorgaat
31 januari 2018

NRC-Hbld, 31-1-2018

De mist trekt over Yantai. AP Chu Yang

De drie jaar durende discussie over de branch campus in Yantai is delaatste dagen in een stroomversnelling gekomen. Toen binnenskamers
duidelijk werd dat er bij een eventuele stemming geen meerderheid
gehaald kon worden, hebben wij en enkele andere aangedrongen om tochin overleg te blijven. Helaas bleek de moeite tevergeefs. Als enige
studentenpartij die zich achter het plan heeft geschaard heerst bij ons dan
ook teleurstelling.
De universiteit heeft de kans om een stap vooruit te zetten niet gekregen,en is in plaats daarvan gedwongen om twee stappen terug te doen.
Gedurende de afgelopen drie jaar hebben wij als partij altijd geprobeerd
om de plannen over een eventuele branch campus kritisch maar positief tebenaderen. Ook realiseren wij ons dat iedereen aan de RUG uiteindelijk

DvhN, 14-4-18

06-07-2018 | 29

Reconsidering the plans…

To be continued, but slowerpace

06-07-2018 | 30

› application for Transnational Education (TNE)
can be drawn up for the Ministry of Education,
Culture and Science, and put before theUniversity Council for approval.
› Ongoing agreements will continue, on theunderstanding that approval for TNE from theUniversity Council and the Minister are a legal
requirement.
https://www.rug.nl/news/2018/04/vervolg-samenwerking-in-yantai

06-07-2018 | 31

Solution:› Not a university wide branch but gradualpartnership with specific faculties› Faculty of Faculty of Science and Engineeringinterested; other faculties may follow

06-07-2018 | 32

Bottom up approach FSE

06-07-2018 | 33

06-07-2018 | 34

2017-2018› During academic year 2017-2018 at least
122,000 international students study in Dutch
higher education. This is the highest number
ever recorded.
› In addition, there are almost 5,000 foreign PhDstudents in the Netherlands.
› In 2017-2018, students with a total of 162
different nationalities were enrolled in theNetherlands in higher education.
› Around 80,000 Dutch students and 40,000
international students are currently enrolled ina study programme which is exclusively taught
in English. https://www.nuffic.nl/en/publications/find-apublication/incoming-student-mobility-in-dutch-higher-education-20172018.pdf

4. Conclusion: Why did the branch
campus not materialise?

06-07-2018 | 35

1. Doubts about the business plan
2. Doubts about assurance of the same
research/education quality in China
3. Decision making process: the consent of theUniversity Council was crucial; its members
were not in agreement