Arts University Bournemouth (AUB) has been granted permission to bring its world-renowned creative education directly to China. Following official approval from the Ministry of Education, AUB is developing a partnership with Nanjing University of the Arts (NUA) to launch a historic joint institution: the Bournemouth International Academy of Arts.
This will represent a landmark partnership – the first of its scale for both universities – and will see AUB export its highly acclaimed expertise in film production, animation, and gaming straight to Nanjing.
By blending British creative philosophies with NUA’s rich artistic heritage, the new academy plans to inject fresh international talent into China’s booming cultural and creative economy.
Once launched, the newly established academy will be fully integrated into China’s national higher education enrolment plan, utilising an innovative '4+0' dual-student and dual-degree training model.
Under this structure, students will complete all four years of their undergraduate studies on site at the NUA campus in Nanjing. Upon successful graduation, students will be awarded three distinct qualifications: a graduation certificate from NUA, a Bachelor's degree certificate from NUA, and a Bachelor's degree certificate from AUB.
This partnership intends to seamlessly weave AUB’s high-quality curriculum, rigorous teaching standards, and expert faculty with NUA’s deep-rooted academic traditions. Together, the institutions aim to cultivate a new generation of industry-oriented creative talent equipped with a global perspective rooted in the Chinese context.
To formalise the ongoing development of the framework, Lisa Mann, Vice-Chancellor and CEO of AUB, led a senior delegation to Nanjing on 25 May.
The team was warmly received by NUA President Zhang Linghao and Vice-President Zhang Jie. The leadership teams engaged in high-level dialogues to map out the implementation strategy, expressing absolute confidence in the planned joint blueprint.
“This is a momentous milestone in AUB’s global journey," Lisa comments. "As a premier institution for creative education in China, Nanjing University of the Arts possesses an incredibly profound academic heritage.
“Through this partnership, we are thrilled to bring AUB’s world-renowned creative educational philosophy and exceptional resources to China, effectively building a cross-cultural creative bridge for students in both nations.
“Establishing this academy will allow AUB to align our world-leading specialisms – including film production, visual communication, and game animation – with China’s vibrant and growing demand for creative education. This will not only elevate AUB's brand presence across Asia, but will also unlock unparalleled opportunities for international exchange, cross-cultural learning, and collaborative practice for our staff and students alike, solidifying AUB’s position at the forefront of global creative arts education.”
Zhang Linghao adds that the collaboration is a vital mechanism for NUA to elevate its international academic profile. By embedding top-tier international resources and reforming curriculum frameworks, NUA aims to foster high-level artistic talent capable of competing on the world stage.
Looking ahead, once in place, the Bournemouth International Academy of Arts will serve as a dynamic hub for teaching innovation, joint faculty development, collaborative research, and creative industry engagement.
The planned venture is set to inject fresh international vitality into the rapidly expanding cultural and creative sectors within the Yangtze River Delta region, creating a premier, cross-cultural educational ecosystem that blends the very best of British and Chinese artistic traditions.
