Glasgow Caledonian University forges new global partnerships

Glasgow Caledonian University is committed to enhancing its strong international dimension and pushing global boundaries and this month forged two new partnerships that will allow it to establish more education and research links and staff and student exchanges.

Building on existing international partnerships in China and India, GCU signed a Letter of Intent to work with Brazil’s Federal University of Rio De Janeiro (UFRJ) , focusing on its School of Engineering and Built Environment and UFRJ’s Cento de Technologia (COPPE).

Professor Brian Stewart, of the School of Engineering and Built Environment, said: “We are delighted that the university has signed a Letter of Intent with the Federal University of Rio De Janeiro to strengthen academic relationships between the two universities. FMC Technologies has opened a $40 million subsea research centre at UFRJ, the largest subsea technology research centre in South America. As GCU has a five-year collaboration agreement with FMC Technologies in Scotland to undertake research and development in new sensor developments for the subsea oil and gas industry, we hope that the agreement between the universities may lead also to the development of new collaborative research and development activities between GCU, UFRJ and FMC Technologies. This agreement could allow complimentary research expertise within both universities to be brought together to produce advanced technical solutions and innovations for FMC and the oil and gas industry.”

The first stage of the collaboration will see the establishment of exchange programmes for doctoral students and visiting professorships.

In addition, the university has signed a Co-operation and Exchange Agreement with East China University of Science and Technology (ECUST) in Shanghai. The agreement allows students from the third year of ECUST degrees in engineering and computing programmes to complete the final year of their studies at GCU. Students will graduate with an award from each university, ensuring that they receive recognition for their work at home in China and globally. ECUST Honours graduates can also articulate into GCU Masters programmes in subjects such as Instrumentation and Control, Maintenance Management, Wireless Communication Technologies, Advanced Computing and 3D Design of Virtual Environments. Professor Caroline Parker, Associate Dean International, said: “This understanding marks the beginning of a relationship which both hope will deepen and we are already discussing initiatives such as a summer school here in Glasgow in which students will obtain a taster of existing GCU masters programmes and Scottish culture and be prepared for the learning styles and study approaches they can expect if they undertake their final or postgraduate study year in Scotland.”

As well as formal partnerships with leading institutions in China, India, the US, Oman and Bangladesh, GCU is a member of the prestigious international Santander Universities network, which brings together almost 1000 universities throughout Spain, Portugal, Latin America and the UK. Each of these partnerships offers GCU students and staff opportunities to enrich their academic and cultural experience. In addition, around GCU 500 students travel around the world each year to study or take part in field trips to institutions across Europe, through the Erasmus programme, North America, South America, Asia and Australia, with which the university has forged exchange agreements.