First of Its Kind in China: HSBI Establishes Independent University on the Tropical Island of Hainan

Bielefeld (hsbi). A sensation for academia: as the first foreign institution ever, Hochschule Bielefeld – University of Applied Sciences and Arts (HSBI) has succeeded in establishing an independent university in the People’s Republic of China. The new university is called Hainan Bielefeld University of Applied Sciences, BiUH for short, which is pronounced “be you.” It is located on the large island of Hainan in the South China Sea, on the southernmost end of China.

In the past, Hainan has been known as a tourist destination in particular. However, the Yangpu/Danzhou Economic Development Zone in the island’s north has become very important. Numerous international investors from Industry 4.0 have settled here – a development that is intended to be pushed forward. The Economic Development Zone’s special legal status has made it possible for HSBI to establish an independent university in China as a foreign player. This is because according to the Hainan Free Trade Port Law of the People’s Republic of China, universities from abroad can establish independent educational institutions for engineering, agriculture and medicine in the island’s free trade port. In all other Chinese provinces, however, foreign university programmes are only possible in collaboration with and under the leadership of Chinese universities. 

Freedom of science, collaboration on equal footing, improvement of intercultural skills

Prof. Dr. Ingeborg Schramm-Wölk, President of HSBI, comments: “Like many other players in the German research and science landscape, HSBI is highly interested in designing innovative German-Chinese projects for mutual benefit. Facilitating mobility and collaboration between HSBI and BiUH, improving German students’ knowledge of China and enhancing knowledge of Germany among talented young people from China and Southeast Asia are important arguments in favour of HSBI’s commitment, which is funded by the German Academic Exchange Service (DAAD). BiUH will be an independent university that operates according to the German model of universities of applied sciences. It will place great emphasis on freedom of science and enable all those who are involved to collaborate on equal footing, in a transparent and friendly manner.”

BiUH will launch its teaching activities as soon as in the winter semester 2023/2024 with 140 students in the two bachelor’s degree programmes Computer Science and Digital Technologies. Applicants will have completed the Chinese university entrance examinations with very good results and will come from 12 Chinese provinces. After the initial phase, BiUH will offer further study programmes, such as Digital Logistics, Electrical Engineering, International Studies in Management, Mechanical Engineering, Mechatronics/Automation and Industrial Engineering and Management.

BiUH President: professionals and executives for Chinese, German and international companies

Teaching will be based on the successful model of work-integrated studies at HSBI. This means that in alternating phases, students will spend approximately half of their studies at the university and the other half in cooperating companies, in which their work is closely related to the respective phase of their studies. Renowned companies from East Westphalia-Lippe (OWL) that are active in China have already signed corresponding MOUs and started their own preparations. Among these companies are Beckhoff, Weidmüller and other members of the innovation network it’s OWL. The project team is also in close contact with other German companies in China.

Prof. Dr. Jürgen Kretschmann, former president of Bochum’s Technische Hochschule Georg Agricola (THGA) and renowned China expert, was appointed President of BiUH. “In China, there is great interest in an academic education with practical orientation, as those responsible have observed how successful this model is in Germany,” says Kretschmann. “The establishment of BiUH based on the model of HSBI aims to mobilise German educational resources in order to train qualified professionals and executives in accordance with German education standards and the needs of Chinese, German and international companies.”

Prof. Dr. Guan Naijia will be Chancellor of BiUH and its legal representative in China. Most recently, she was Vice President at Nankai University in Tianjin. She knows the German higher education system well thanks to several DAAD-funded teaching and research stays in Germany as a chemical scientist. BiUH’s Chancellor works together closely with the HSBI team led by project coordinator Frauke Dittmann and Judith Peltz, Head of HSBI’s International Office, who have successfully driven forward the preparations for establishing the university in Hainan during the last years with enormous amounts of energy and prudence.

DAAD funding and substantial expenditure from Hainan’s provincial government make the project possible

On the German side, the DAAD is funding the project with €1.8 million from the Federal Ministry of Education and Research (BMBF) for the duration of 2021–2024 within the programme line “Transnationale Bildungsangebote deutscher Hochschulen im Ausland.” The substantial funds required for the construction of the university building in Yangpu will be provided by Hainan’s provincial government and the City of Danzhou. For the first five years, rent-free use of the university facilities has been agreed. Apart from that, BiUH will be financed by tuition fees in the medium and long term. In the first year, these will amount to ¥80,000 RMB (approx. €10,000), which is an amount in the medium range compared to tuition fees of other higher education cooperation projects in China. The gap in financing until economic independence has been reached by BiUH will be closed by subsidies from the province and the City of Danzhou.

In 2034, BiUH aims to have 12,000 students enrolled in various bachelor’s and master’s degree programmes. Until the first construction phase of the actual university campus in Yangpu has been completed in the winter semester 2025/2026, teaching will take place on an interim campus in the Lingshui Li’an International Education Innovation Pilot Zone in southern Hainan. In Yangpu, a 67-hectare plot will be available for the university buildings and necessary infrastructure such as canteens, student halls, sports and culture facilities. The initial development for connection to electricity, water and roads have already been completed, with the actual construction work kicking off in November this year.

Teaching in English, German courses, intercultural training

BiUH’s provider is Hainan BiKe Education Development Limited Company, a so-called wholly foreign-owned enterprise (WFOE), which was established in Hainan as a 100-percent subsidiary with limited liability through the company FH Bielefeld International GmbH that pertains to HSBI. BiUH’s highest decision-making body is a board of trustees that will initially be appointed by the provider. All funds generated by BiUH will be invested in the university’s development. In the long run, BiUH is intended to be able to receive third-party donations and provide students with scholarships as a non-profit educational institution.

BiUH’s teaching concept with the work-integrated study programmes, which are so successful in Bielefeld, Minden and Gütersloh, is distinctly different from the teaching and study habits in China. This was one of the main arguments of the Chinese partners in favour of entering into the project with HSBI. The general language of instruction will be English. In addition, training models for the acquisition of German skills will be offered in order to prepare Chinese students for a stay at HSBI.

Studies at BiUH will start with an introductory semester, which will include German and English courses and introductions to scientific work and project management. Intercultural training will also be offered. Therefore, the standard time to degree in work-integrated studies at BiUH will be eight semesters, as opposed to seven semesters at HSBI.

First students from Hainan in Germany and vice versa in 2025

For each student cohort of 35 students, a professorship with lecturers and research associates according to HSBI standards is planned. In addition, there will be teaching staff for the English and German courses. The entire teaching staff will be recruited internationally. Teaching and administrative staff for BiUH will be chosen by the same criteria as in the German education system and in a competitive and transparent selection procedure that takes into account equality and diversity aspects as well. Aside from professional qualifications and proven teaching experience, BiUH’s staff must also bring very good English skills.

“With the new university, HSBI drives its internationalisation process forward, positions itself as a top address for dual study programmes internationally, participates actively in development processes in Hainan as a new economic, technology and education centre in China and fosters exchange and cooperation between students, lecturers and researchers in both countries,” summarises HSBI’s President Prof. Dr. Ingeborg Schramm-Wölk. “We look forward to welcoming the first students from Hainan to Germany and enabling HSBI students to gain international experience at BiUH as soon as 2025.” (lk)