UQ and China

Partners in the global economy

UQ has more student mobility, research collaborations, and commercialisation partnerships with China than with almost any other country. The strong linkages are a result of long-standing partnerships with Chinese institutions, particularly the Chinese Academy of Sciences, and some of the country's most influential industry bodies and organisations, including Baosteel and the National Natural Science Foundation of China. 

Fast facts



12,509

Chinese students enrolled at UQ


1,153

 China-UQ co-publications


250

academic staff born in China


41

research project collaborations


26,081

alumni in China


144

agreements with 87 official partners

Fast facts show full year 2022 data. 

Collaboration in action

  • The UQ Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Studies (ATSIS) Unit in partnership with the Confucius Institute at The University of Queensland (UQ CI) supported a month long experience to China this year for three engineering students.
  • University of Queensland researchers will explore how the ingenuity and expertise of Australian architects contributes to improving the quality of life among Chinese citizens.

  • UQ graduate Maggie James believes in the power of music and is using her talent to brighten people’s lives – even in their darkest hours.
  • University of Queensland Medicine alumnus and startup entrepreneur Dr Zachary Tan has been chosen as one of 140 international scholars selected for the Schwarzman Scholars, a prestigious master’s program.
  • Some of the world’s ancient cultures — Chinese and Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples — have joined hands in friendship to promote opportunities for students at The University of Queensland.
  • Eleven collaborative research projects have been approved for $73,425 in funding in the second round of the 2018 UQ Global Strategy and Partnerships Seed Funding Scheme. A total of 28 eligible applications were received for this round amounting to more than $220,000 in requested funding.

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Chinese culture at UQ

UQ has a long history of providing Mandarin language and Chinese culture programs, with the first Chinese classes held as early as 1967. Today, UQ students can study Mandarin Chinese through the School of Languages and Cultures, which offers more than 50 Chinese courses including Techniques in Teaching Chinese as a Second Language, and Chinese Translation and Interpreting.

The Institute of Modern Languages (IML) also offers Chinese courses (Mandarin and Cantonese) for the wider Brisbane community, as well as translation and interpreting services. In addition, the Confucius Institute manages programs and events that foster engagement between Australia and China.

Alumni

China is home to a significant UQ alumni network - UQ has 26,081 alumni living in China. Alumni with significant links to China include:

Deputy Head of Mission to China and former Consulate-General in Guangzhou (Bachelor of Arts (Hons) 1994)
Professor and Chief Physician at School of Medicine and Director of Global Health Program at Research Centre For Public Health, Tsinghua University (Master of Tropical Health 1992)
Global Chair, KPMG Global China Practice; Head of Infrastructure, KPMG China (Bachelor of Commerce (Hons) 1992)
Karen Yih
Vice President, Strategy and Corporate Development, Starbucks China (Bachelor of Commerce 1993)
Chief Strategy Officer at Tencent Music Entertainment Group (Bachelor of Commerce 2001)