WVU forms partnership with Chinese university

West Virginia University’s Statler College of Engineering and Mineral Resources formed a partnership with China University of Mining and Technology that will enable eligible students from China to study at WVU.
The program, which could possibly be underway by fall 2020, will allow students from CUMT’s campus in Xuzhou, China, to come to Morgantown to complete undergraduate degree requirements in courses such as mining engineering, chemical engineering and mechanical engineering. Once that degree is earned, CUMT students would then have the option to apply for the Master of Science in Engineering, a year long program at Statler College.
“This partnership increases our exposure to the world, which will increase WVU’s recognition by our peer universities and potential partners,” said David Wyrick, a professor and associate dean for Academic Affairs at Statler. “CUMT is recognized worldwide for its programs and can be considered a strategic university partner.”
The goal is to grow the number of graduate students at WVU and to support the university’s efforts to become a global school. CUMT officials were in Morgantown last week to discuss the potential program and how it will work.
“For undergraduate students at WVU, it will allow them to work closely on projects with Chinese colleagues in their upper division courses.”
Wyrick said WVU and Statler have had a working relationship with CUMT for a number of years and sent students to the CUMT campus in China during summer breaks for the last several years. This latest venture between the schools is something from which both sides hope to benefit, he said.
“So much of the world is interconnected these days,” said Wyrick, adding the program will start small with a handful of Chinese students. “People are people. We need to look at things as strategic partnerships. I would like to see some of our courses taught in China.”