Hertfordshire College, Changzhou Institute of Technology (CIT) is a Sino-foreign joint institute established by CIT and the University of Hertfordshire, UK, in response to the internationalization trend in higher education. It was officially approved by the Ministry of Education of the People's Republic of China in April 2023. The College initially offers three undergraduate programmes: Electrical Engineering and Automation, Automation, and Intelligent Manufacturing Engineering, adopting the 4+0 cooperative education mode. Without the need to study abroad, students can enjoy dual Chinese and British student status, access high-quality educational resources from the University of Hertfordshire, and obtain both Chinese and British undergraduate degrees upon graduation. The College fully integrates the University of Hertfordshire’s advanced educational philosophy, high-quality teaching resources, innovative teaching methodologies and the QAA higher education quality assurance framework. It provides small-class, fully English-taught instruction and serves as an important platform for the University to integrate high-quality international educational resources and a vital gateway to advance international exchange and cooperation.
Following this adjustment, Hertfordshire College has introduced a new undergraduate programme in Artificial Intelligence, increasing its total enrolment capacity to 1,600 students. The annual enrolment allocation is as follows: 120 students for Electrical Engineering and Automation, 120 for Automation, 80 for Intelligent Manufacturing Engineering, and 80 for Artificial Intelligence. The optimized programme structure and expanded enrolment capacity are closely aligned with national strategy for the development of emerging industries. By responding to talent demands in high-end equipment manufacturing, power systems, intelligent robotics, artificial intelligence and other key sectors across the Yangtze River Delta region, Hertfordshire College helps address the regional shortage of internationally oriented engineering professionals and better meets public expectations and demand for high-quality international higher education resources.
Going forward, the University will take the programme addition and enrolment capacity expansion as a valuable opportunity to further strengthen and deepen its partnership with the University of Hertfordshire across a range of areas, including jointly developed programmes, collaborative teaching, CDIO-based engineering education, quality assurance, and research and innovation. It is expected that Hertfordshire College will play a pivotal role in advancing the University's internationalization strategy. By promoting continuous quality enhancement and institutional development, Hertfordshire College will contribute to improve the University's overall international standards and global engagement. Together, the two institutions will cultivate more high-quality, interdisciplinary, and internationally oriented practice-based graduates, contributing to the University's development as a high-level application-oriented institution, supporting the implementation of major national strategies, and promoting high-quality economic and social development in the Yangtze River Delta region.
