News Network of XAUAT — On June 1, Xi’an University of Architecture and Technology (XAUAT) convened a coordination meeting to advance the establishment and operation of the XAUAT–UC International Science and Engineering Institute. The meeting was held in the conference room on the third floor of the Administration Building. Vice President Chen Rong attended and delivered remarks. The meeting was chaired by Wang Chunmei, Director of the Office of International Affairs.
Chen Rong noted that the establishment of XAUAT–UC International Science and Engineering Institute represents a significant step in advancing the University’s “Double First-Class” initiative and enhancing its level of international education. With the Institute now transitioning from the application phase to the post-approval operational stage, a series of urgent and important tasks lie ahead. To ensure the successful enrollment of the inaugural cohort in September 2026, the University has decided that the Institute will be temporarily administered by the leadership team of An De College during the initial period. Chen Rong emphasized that all relevant units should attach great importance to the task and work collaboratively on key priorities, including governance structure development, educational resource allocation, curriculum alignment, faculty recruitment and development, student admissions, and operational support. He called for a coordinated, university-wide effort to ensure the Institute is launched at a high standard and positioned for long-term success. He also stressed that the interim management team should leverage its experience in international cooperative education to oversee planning, coordinate implementation, and maintain strict control of project milestones, ensuring that the new institution is fully prepared to welcome its first students.
During the meeting, Wang Chunmei reported on the Institute’s approval process. Since XAUAT and University of Canterbury established their intention to cooperate in May 2025, the two universities had engaged in more than a year of close consultation and joint preparation of application materials. Despite challenges arising from time-zone differences and evolving policy requirements, the proposal was approved by the provincial government in March 2026 and subsequently submitted to the Ministry of Education. In May 2026, the Institute received official approval.
The approval of XAUAT’s second Sino-foreign cooperative education institution marks a new milestone in the University’s international education strategy and opens a new chapter in its global development.Representatives from the Student Affairs Department, Graduate Affairs Department, Development Planning and Discipline Construction Office, Undergraduate School, Graduate School, Finance Office, State-owned Assets Management Office, Office of International Affairs, School of Environmental and Municipal Engineering, School of Mechanical and Electrical Engineering, School of Information and Control Engineering, School of Arts, College of Urban Development and Modern Transport, and An De College attended the meeting.
