The University in China, Hong Kong and Taiwan

Since the start of its academic operations in 1975, the University of Bayreuth has been steadily expanding its strategic international partnerships, including with Chinese universities. The University of Bayreuth has been successfully cooperating with Chinese universities in research and teaching for decades. The longest-standing partnership with Shanghai International Studies University (SISU) in the academic fields of Intercultural German Studies and Economics dates back to 1986. Cornerstones of this strategic partnership include double degree programs with SISU as well as with BIT (Beijing Institute of Technology). Additionally, since 2012, SISU has also been the center of our alumni network in China. On April 8, 2016, UBT opened its first Gateway Office on the SISU campus in Hongkou District of Shanghai. The Gateway Office elevates the strategic partnership with China and the East Asian region to a qualitatively new level and serves as a facility for all members of the University of Bayreuth and its Chinese partners.

The strategic positioning of the Gateway Office is centered on fostering strong institutional relationships and deepening engagement within the dynamic landscape of higher education in China and the broader East Asian region. As a key outpost of UBT's global outreach efforts, the GO serves as a bridge between the UBT and various academic, governmental, and societal stakeholders in Greater China, Bavaria and Germany. Its primary objective is to enhance UBT's visibility, reputation, and influence in the Chinese higher education sector by actively promoting the university's academic programs, research initiatives, and institutional strengths.

Currently, we maintain partnerships with over 20 universities in Mainland China, Hong Kong, and Taiwan. The forms of cooperation and subject areas are extremely diverse, covering numerous focus areas of renowned Chinese universities, which significantly enhance academic exchange between German and Chinese students and researchers. The GO collaborates with partner institutions to establish joint academic programs that integrate expertise from multiple disciplines and institutions, thus fostering interdisciplinary learning and research opportunities. These programs include short-term customized study programs, international summer schools, joint PhD programs, joint Post-doc opportunities, double degree programs, guest lectures/block seminars, international competitions and international symposiums.

The GO strategically facilitates collaborations, partnerships, and joint initiatives with Chinese universities, research institutions, and industry partners, aiming to leverage synergies and co-create impactful solutions to global challenges. Through targeted outreach, networking events, and knowledge-sharing platforms, UBT seeks to attract top-tier talent, foster academic exchanges, and facilitate research collaborations that drive innovation and contribute to sustainable development goals. The GO is a strategic tool for conceptualizing, initiating and implementing long-term strategic collaborative activities with excellent partners in determined global hubs as laid out in UBT’s internationalization strategy 2030.

The Bavarian University Center for China (BayCHINA) is located at the University of Bayreuth. Other partners include the China Scholarship Council (CSC) and the China Education Association for International Exchange (CEAIE).