Every year, Kunming Medical University provides funding to support short-term students and faculty exchanges with partner universities in France and the US. It is now looking to expand this programme to the UK, by establishing partnerships with UK universities with strong records in medical education and research, to engage in student and faculty exchanges, joint research, and joint programmes.

Opportunities

Short-term student exchanges

Every year, selected graduate students and fourth year undergraduate students from Kunming Medical University (around 10-15 in total) will be funded to take up to two-month long immersion courses at the partnering UK universities, with the aim of improving their English language proficiency, and developing their knowledge and experience through lectures and other activities.

Teacher exchanges

Every year, academic staff at Kunming Medical University will be funded to participate in institutional visits, professional development programmes, and joint academic research at the partnering UK universities, with the aim of developing their professional knowledge in their respective subject areas, their English language proficiency, and their research skills.

Joint programmes or institutes

Building upon its existing collaboration models, Kunming Medical University is interested in exploring opportunities to establish a joint undergraduate programme or institute with a UK University in the subjects of pharmacy and public health management.

Benefits

This is an opportunity for UK institutions to position themselves as strategic partners for a specialised provincial medical university in Southwest China, and to build their brand awareness in China, which may lead to future business opportunities for teacher training, curriculum development, and boost student exchanges and recruitment.

Areas of responsibility for the collaborating parties

Selected UK partners

UK partners selected in relation to the student and teacher exchanges will be expected to develop tailor-made courses for the students and professional development programmes for the teachers.

Kunming Medical University

The University will be responsible for recruiting participants and providing funding to support the exchange programmes.

Details of these programmes and the other opportunities can be further discussed once Kunming Medical University has made an initial selection.  

About Kunming Medical University

Kunming Medical University was founded in 1933 and is the largest specialised medical university in Yunnan, Southwest China. The University consists of three campuses, 17 schools, and has 12 affiliated hospitals where students can gain hands-on experience. It currently has 15,000 students and more than 1,400 professors, including more than 50 foreign scholars.

Kunming Medical University is the leading institution for research in medicine and health in Yunnan province, and its Academic Journal of Kunming Medical University is one of China’s key journals for science and technology. Since 1998, the University has established partnerships and exchange programmes with medical schools and institutions in more than 30 countries worldwide.

About Yunnan Province

Yunnan is the most southwest province of China, bordering Vietnam, Laos and Burma. It boasts abundant natural resources, which enables Kunming Medical University to conduct extensive scientific research on varied fields of medicine, such as pharmacology, stem cells, and social and population health. Yunnan's wealth of resources also feeds its leading industries, which include tourism, hydropower, environmental technologies, and the development of biological resources.

Timeline

19 June 2016

Deadline for expressions of interest

10 July 2016

Feedback to be provided to UK institutions

Mid-September 2016

Official delegation led by Kunming Medical University’s Vice-President to visit UK and call on the selected institutions to take forward discussions.

UK universities interested in this opportunity should contact siem.china@britishcouncil.org.cn by 23 June 2016. Please provide a one-page introduction of your organisation, highlighting relevant experience and strengths in medical education and research, and any existing international partnerships in these areas.