Education officials from Chengdu, the capital of China’s Sichuan Province, are seeking the assistance of Missouri University of Science and Technology and the University of Missouri-St. Louis to establish a new English-language university in China.

Dr. Warren K. Wray, interim chancellor of Missouri S&T, and Dr. Tom George, UMSL chancellor, have been working with officials from China’s Tianfu College to develop the new university, pending approval from Chinese education officials. The university would be known as Sichuan Missouri University, or SMU.

“The quality of a Missouri S&T education is recognized worldwide,” Wray says. “This is why we were contacted to help develop this new university. The engineering curriculum for SMU will mirror that of Missouri S&T, ensuring that SMU’s programs align with our high academic standards.”

The proposal calls for S&T and UMSL to design degree programs in eight target areas that meet University of Missouri System degree requirements. Four of the programs would be in mining engineering, metallurgical engineering, ceramic engineering and engineering management, and all would be identical to Missouri S&T’s curriculum in those disciplines. The other degree programs will be in business, nursing, graphic design, and social work and gerontology, and would mirror UMSL’s curriculum.

The University of Missouri Board of Curators recently approved plans to move forward with this project. Classes could begin by the fall 2013 semester.

The Chinese partners will cover the full cost of establishing SMU, including all construction and equipment purchases, and all faculty and staff salaries and benefit costs. Missouri S&T’s investment will be limited to intellectual capital, Wray says.

Both UMSL and Missouri S&T will receive 10 percent of tuition fees per student per year.
Chengdu, the capital of Sichuan Province, has more than 14 million residents.