China Engagement

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.

Some of the notable partnerships and collaborations between Saint Mary’s and China include the following:

• 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 12 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.
• The Saint Mary’s Department of Biology maintains an active research collaboration with Shaanxi Normal University in Xi’an.
• Saint Mary’s has a research collaboration with Nanjing Audit University in Finance.
• 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.