China Engagement
Saint Mary's University in Halifax, Nova Scotia has several longstanding partnerships with a number of universities and colleges in China. These partnerships have benefitted both Chinese and Canadian students and faculty, allowing opportunities for exchange, collaboration and intercultural learning. The rich history of our collaborative projects, research and learning opportunities has strengthened relationships between Halifax and cities in China, and we boast a thriving alumni network.
Nova Scotia has twinning agreements with the provinces of Shandong and Guangdong, as well as a sister agreement with Fujian, China. Halifax announced a partnership agreement with Zhuhai in 2018.
Saint Mary’s is unique in Atlantic Canada in offering a comprehensive, degree-granting interdisciplinary program in Asian Studies. Founded in 1971, the program is designed for students to learn Asian languages and cultures and to facilitate study abroad experiences in Asia, particularly China; honours, majors and minors in Chinese Studies are included, and the Certificate in Chinese Studies is also available.
Projects, Programs and Collaborations
- Saint Mary’s played a leadership role in the Canada/China Language and Cultural Program (CCLCP) funded by CIDA. This project ran from 1982-1997 and established a language-training centre at Beijing Normal University and an across-Canada network of regional orientation centres for Chinese scholars and students coming to study and research in Canada.
- During the 1980s, Saint Mary’s established partnerships in the business sector through the CIDA-supported Canada China Management Education Program. These partnerships were with the University of International Business and Economics and Xiamen University. Saint Mary’s University was involved in helping Xiamen University to build its MBA Centre, which was believed to be the first of its kind in China.
- During the 1980s, Saint Mary’s developed an exchange program with Shandong Teachers University.
- During the 1990s, Saint Mary’s delivered two Executive MBA Programs on behalf of China Minmetals Corporation to train and upgrade its middle management.
- Working with Xiamen University and Fujian Agriculture and Forestry University, Saint Mary’s helped lead a $7 million CIDA-supported Community-based Conservation Management project in China and Vietnam.
- Saint Mary’s has delivered a Master of Finance program to Chinese students who have come to Halifax since the late 1990s. Over 300 Chinese students have completed their Master of Finance degree. Many of them have also obtained CFA designations and are now working in China’s financial sector.
- Saint Mary’s has student exchange and credit transfer agreements with more than 20 Chinese institutions.
- The Confucius Institute, in partnership with Xiamen University, operated at Saint Mary’s from 2011 to 2024. The Institute provided Chinese language instruction and accreditation and taught about Chinese culture.
- Saint Mary’s completed a Federal government-funded project in Chongqing. Led by Dr. Kevin Kelloway, the project focused on occupational health and safety in the workplace.
- Dr. Robert Summerby-Murray, President and Vice-Chancellor of Saint Mary’s University, has travelled extensively to China on trade missions with the Premier of Nova Scotia and the Mayor of Halifax.
Title | Date | Partners | Description |
Canada-China Management Education Program | 1983-1986 | Xiamen University University of Int’l Business and Economics | Promote business education and establish MBA programs in China. |
Canada/China Language and Cultural Program ($25M) | 1982-1995 | University of Int’l Business and Economics Beijing Normal University | Support for CIDA-funded Chinese scholars and trainees through language training centres in China and cultural training centres in Canada. |
Community-Based Conservation Management in China and Vietnam ($7M) | 1998-2003 | Xiamen University, Fujian Agricultural and Forestry University Vietnam National University | Develop institutional expertise in ecosystem health and conservation management through community-oriented field training and activities. |
China Migrant Labour Occupational Health and Safety | 2008-2013 | Foundation for International Training | Training for government and other agencies in Chongqing to reduce the incidence of workplace injury, illness and death, particularly for migrant workers. |
Students for Development – Food Security | 2011-2013 | Shaanxi Normal University | Internship exchange for students to carry out research on issues related to food security in mountainous regions. |
Saint Mary’s partnered with Beijing Normal University Zhuhai from 2002 to 2024, encompassing several study abroad programs, transfer credit agreements and a Saint Mary’s satellite campus at BNUZ. These included the following:
- Saint Mary’s collaborated with BNUZ to offer Canadian students an annual five-week summer study abroad program on Chinese history and culture.
- From 2012 to 2015, Saint Mary’s collaborated with Acadia University to offer an annual three-week summer program for students from Beijing Normal University and Beijing Normal University Zhuhai. Held on their two campuses in Nova Scotia, the program focused on North American culture and English language. Beginning in 2016, Saint Mary’s delivered the entire program on its campus in Halifax.
- 2+2 agreements in Business, Science and Arts enabled BNUZ students to complete the first two years of university study on campus at BNUZ and to transfer to Saint Mary’s to complete the final two years of their degrees in Halifax. The Arts 2+2 was the only such agreement in Canada and possibly in the world.
- Saint Mary’s and BNUZ collaborated to offer professional development institutes for their two universities' academic faculty and administrative staff. This was a bilateral organizational change initiative: BNUZ focused on teaching and pedagogy development, and Saint Mary’s focused on intercultural development.
- In 2014, a satellite campus of Saint Mary’s was established to offer the Bachelor of Commerce degree (Finance Major) in China. Students would take two years of the degree program from Beijing Normal University at Zhuhai (BNUZ) faculty, and for the final two years, they are instructed by Saint Mary’s professors from the Sobey School of Business. Students could stay in China and take a Saint Mary’s degree on-site at BNUZ.
- The connections built between BNUZ and Saint Mary’s have helped the City of Halifax and the Province of Nova Scotia develop relationships with businesses in China.
Exchange Programs and Transfer Credit Agreements
Current exchange opportunities |
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City University of Hong Kong, College of Business |
Guizhou Normal University - Research Cooperation |
Hainan University |
Hong Kong Baptist University |
Jinan University |
Nanjing Audit University - Research Collaboration |
United International College |
Xiamen University |
Learn more about opportunities to study in China from the Global Learning & Intercultural Support Office
Current transfer credit agreements |
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Beijing Institute of Technology Zhuhai |
Dongguan University of Technology |
Guangdong Peizheng College |
Guangdong University of Finance |
Guangdong University of Technology |
Guangzhou City University of Technology |
Jinan University |
Nanjing Audit University |
Ningbo University |
South China Business College, Guangdong University of Foreign Studies |
Wuhan University, International School of Software |
Xiamen University |
Xiamen University, Tan Kah Kee College |
Zhongnan University of Economics and Law |
Zhongshan Institute of University of Electronic Science & Technology of China |
MoU |
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Guangdong University of Finance and Economics |
Guangdong University of Petrochemical Technology |
Suqian College |
Zhuhai City Polytechnic |