UC’s Joint Co-op Institute marks 10 years of partnership with Chongqing University

Established in 2013, the Joint Co-op Institute gives students the opportunity to integrate academics with hands-on work experiences through five semesters of cooperative education (co-op), primarily conducted in China. Chinese students enrolled in the five-year program spend their first four years taking classes in China from both CQU and UC faculty. They spend their final year taking classes at UC. 

Featuring degree programs in mechanical engineering and electrical engineering, JCI students earn bachelor’s degrees from both CQU and UC. JCI is the first co-op program in China and includes more than 30 companies employing co-op students.

Providing its students with a unique blend of cross-cultural experiences and real-world opportunities, JCI had a record enrollment of 109 students in the 2023 cohort, marking a 65% increase from its inception in 2013. The success of the program extends beyond graduation, as 98% of JCI graduates go on to enroll in graduate programs. 

Sherry Liao, JCI program manager, paralleled the same sentiment.

“I graduated from UC with a PhD, and I did my undergraduate studies in China,” Liao said. “I’m proud to be a part of something so unique. I knew firsthand how valuable the international experience can be. I studied in Beijing when I was younger, and I absolutely loved it there – but I wouldn’t be who I am if I hadn’t studied here in America. Our students that go to China experience the same thing, and it’s great to see the next generation of international leaders grow.” 

While there were some challenges initially with cultural and language barriers, the program has managed to grow every single year, subsequently altering the landscape for educational models in China.

“Initially, co-op in China was a bit of a hard sell, because it wasn’t widely understood internationally that you should and could hire somebody like a first or second-year student that had very little experience. And then, on top of that, to give them a legitimate engineering job and pay them a salary,” Arthur said. “There was initially a push to give students lower-level jobs that didn’t really affect bigger aspects of the organization.” 

“It took a while to convince everyone that the students are talented beyond their perceptions, but now, it’s gratifying to look at the fact that we’ve played a massive part in establishing and influencing co-op success internationally,” Arthur said.

Zhiqing Zhang, the former vice dean and now current dean of the JCI, also expressed gratitude at overcoming the initial challenges.

“When I was initially tasked with securing co-op positions from companies during the program’s establishment, it posed a significant challenge,” Zhang said. “Given the absence of co-op education in China, many partners value the consistent labor resource and access to top university students. Co-op rotations provide a year-round labor resource, reducing partners' recruitment costs. Additionally, being one of China's top universities and with JCI making co-op a requisite with credits, we ensure the high quality of students and their co-op work. It’s my honor to witness the development of the JCI and I take pride in our collective achievement.”

The pandemic’s travel restrictions and health concerns proved to be a challenge, but the program was able to successfully pivot to virtual connections.

“We pushed through the initial challenges of the pandemic and we were able to transition very quickly to distance learning,” Huston said. “We’ve come out of the other end stronger in our collaboration, and the numbers are unparalleled.”

Along with JCI’s 10th anniversary, 2023 also marked the return of UC sending a delegation of representatives to CQU on behalf of the JCI program.

“This past trip was our first in-person orientation in four years because of COVID-19. We set up a lot of sightseeing so we all can explore and have some fun, and in turn, learn more,” Liao said. “People are able to experience sights and feelings that they otherwise may not have been able to, from seeing and interacting with a different culture and environment. Whether it’s getting food or reading in another language, there’s always a beneficial challenge. It broadens our perspectives tremendously, especially academically.” 

Lotus Yuchan Yuan, a graduate of the JCI program, reiterated the importance of diversity in perspectives.

“The JCI program opened up my vision. Through this program, I learned to not just focus on my classes and grades, but to also focus on the techniques and cultures of different countries. I believe it’s necessary for a successful career,” Yuan said. 

As the Joint Co-op Institute marks ten years of success, it stands as a shining example of how collaborative educational initiatives can transcend borders, fostering a new generation of globally-minded engineers. The story of this collaboration is not just about academic achievements, though, said Huston.

“This program benefits us not just academically, but humanly as well. Because of our collaboration, so many people are exposed to how we can improve our personal and cultural understandings by working together,” Huston said.

Featured image at top: UC faculty pose together to commemorate the 10th anniversary of the JCI. Photo/provided.