SETU highlighted its leadership in Transnational Education (TNE) in China at a high-level event in Beijing hosted by Taoiseach Micheál Martin during his official visit to the People’s Republic of China.
The event showcased Ireland’s growing reputation for innovative international education partnerships and brought together senior representatives from Irish and Chinese higher-education institutions, government, and industry.
SETU’s participation focused on its two Ministry of Education–approved Joint Educational Institutes (JEIs) in China, the NUIST Waterford Institute, established with Nanjing University of Information Science and Technology (NUIST), and the Carlow International College of Technology (CICT), developed in partnership with the Henan University of Animal Husbandry and Economy (HUAHE). SETU is proud to be one of only two Irish higher-education institutions with more than one Joint Educational Institute in China, reflecting the depth and maturity of its Sino–Irish partnerships.
As outlined in SETU’s Global Engagement Strategic Plan 2024–2028 – Global Minds, Global and Local Impact, the University’s vision is to be “a globally connected university community with diverse cultural perspectives, international experiences, global partnerships and networks, nurturing graduates that thrive in an interconnected world, and empowering faculty to lead in their fields.” SETU’s transnational education activity in China is a key expression of this vision, expanding access to Irish higher education while strengthening long-term academic and cultural links between Ireland and China.
This year, over 2,100 students are pursuing SETU major awards through joint educational institutes and programmes in China, representing a 20% increase on the previous academic year and delivered across ten undergraduate and postgraduate programmes. These programmes are designed to cultivate graduates in areas of high demand who possess global outlooks, professional expertise, innovative mindsets, cross-cultural capabilities, and proactive attitudes.
The NUIST Waterford Institute, approved by China’s Ministry of Education in April 2022, builds on an 18-year partnership between SETU and NUIST, which began with a joint programme in Software Engineering. Located on NUIST’s campus in Nanjing, the Institute combines NUIST’s strong academic base and facilities with European approaches to computer science and engineering education. It delivers undergraduate programmes in Software Engineering, Internet of Things Engineering, Electrical Engineering and Automation, Information Engineering, and Artificial Intelligence, along with a Master’s programme in Electronic Information, with an enrolment capacity of approximately 800 students.
The Carlow International College of Technology (CICT), approved in 2021, operates on the HUAHE campus in Zhengzhou. HUAHE is a comprehensive university with approximately 33,000 full-time students and recognised disciplinary strengths in agriculture, technology, management, and economics. CICT delivers undergraduate programmes in Brewing and Distilling, Agribusiness, and Software Development, with over 1,100 students currently enrolled. The college stands as a flagship example of deep institutional cooperation between SETU and HUAHE.
In addition, SETU operates a joint programme in Visual Communications with Jilin Normal University in Siping City, with over 300 registered SETU students, further extending the university’s TNE footprint in China.
SETU acknowledged the valued support of the Irish Embassy in China and Enterprise Ireland in securing approval for its Joint Educational Institutes and in sustaining the university’s ongoing engagement in China.
Twelve Irish higher-education institutions participated in the Beijing TNE event, coordinated by Education in Ireland. The programme featured an opening address by H.E. Dr Nicholas O’Brien, Ireland’s Ambassador to China, and closing remarks by the Taoiseach. The event attracted significant media interest from both Irish and Chinese press.
Through its Joint Educational Institutes and programmes, SETU continues to demonstrate how long-term partnership, mutual trust, and shared academic ambition can build lasting educational bridges between Ireland and China, delivering impact locally, nationally, and globally.