March 28, 2011
In a continuing effort to expand its global presence, New York University announced on Sunday that it would create a degree-granting campus in Shanghai, China. NYU already has an international campus in Abu Dhabi.
According to a New York University press release, NYU Shanghai is the result of a partnership between NYU, the Shanghai Municipal Education Commission, Pudong New Area and East China Normal University (ECNU). It is the first American university in China to have independent legal status.
"With NYU Shanghai as our partner, we will be able to offer our students even more powerful training in global leadership, to generate research that is enriched by a greater diversity of perspectives, and to model transnational higher education that more effectively serves an informed, productive, just, and cooperative world," said Al Bloom, Vice Chancellor for NYU Abu Dhabi.
Although curriculum is still being finalized, the university is expected to provide a comprehensive liberal arts education--all students will be required to build a foundation in the humanities, social sciences and natural sciences before pursuing a major.
Furthermore, NYU Shanghai will exercise the same "academic freedom associated with American colleges and universities." When asked about censorship, Sexton told The New York Times, "We're comfortable that we will be able to offer an N.Y.U. education in Shanghai the way we offer it in Abu Dhabi or New York City."
The new campus brings NYU another step closer to its goal of becoming a global network university. Additionally, campuses such as NYU Abu Dhabi and NYU Shanghai help attract high caliber faculty and students, while also giving American students an opportunity to study and do research in the Middle East or China.
NYU Shanghai will open its doors to about 150 undergraduate students in September of 2013. Eventually, the school is expected to house some 3,000 undergraduate, graduate and professional students, with nearly half of the student body coming from China. Most of the professors will be NYU faculty members who have agreed to work abroad; however, according to Shanghai Daily, courses that are required by the Ministry of Education for Chinese students will be taught by teachers from ECNU. Construction for the new campus has already begun in Pudong's Lujiazui area.
According to the press release, NYU Shanghai will be funded by the local government, tuition and donations.
Compiled by CityTownInfo.com Staff
Sources:
"N.Y.U. to Establish a Degree-Granting Campus in Shanghai," NYTimes.com, March 27, 2011, Joseph Berger
"NYU and Shanghai Partner to Create NYU Shanghai," NYU.edu, March 27, 2011
"NYU Shanghai campus under construction in Lujiazui," shanghaidaily.com, March 28, 2011, Liang Yiwen