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Limerick college, Ireland signs deal in China

Limerick Institute of Technology (LIT) in the west of Ireland has signed a landmark deal with Yangtze University in Jingzhou, China, that will see up to 120 students a year travelling to Ireland to complete studies in civil engineering and construction management.
December 6 2012
1 Min Read

Limerick Institute of Technology (LIT) in the west of Ireland has signed a landmark deal with Yangtze University in Jingzhou, China, that will see up to 120 students a year travelling to Ireland to complete their studies in civil engineering and construction management. Further programmes in other discipline areas are being explored.

The Chinese students will study the first three years in China on a LIT-recognised programme and then complete their final year of study in Ireland, supported by Chinese government funds.

Dr Maria Hinfelaar, President of LIT, said, “The demand for more qualified professionals in the construction and civil engineering professions in China is growing which is why tuition and accommodation costs for the students who will come to LIT will be covered by the Chinese government. The presence of Chinese students will greatly enhance the international experience of all our students on campus.”

Yangtze University is a sizable campus, teaching 50,000 students and set in a city of 6 million people.

In August, Professor Xi Chuanjin, Dean of the International College at Yangtze University visited LIT to meet with faculty from the School of the Built Environment. The agreement will be developed to allow for LIT student mobility which will benefit LIT students interested in studying in China. Other areas of cooperation being discussed include staff mobility and research activities.

Speaking on Limerick-based Live 95 FM, Hinfelaar added, “It certainly brings lots of promise for us at LIT because it’s a very welcome boost of students into those particular areas which clearly have been hit by the downturn in the construction sector here.”

This agreement is the third major announcement for LIT since the beginning of the academic year: in September the Institute announced details of its ambitious €200m Campus Masterplan and last month LIT was awarded the Sunday Times Institute of Technology of the Year for 2012/13.

• Additional reporting by Richard Gibney, courtesy of Yeah! Magazine in Ireland.

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