What started as an English language training partnership 30 years ago has grown into an opportunity for students in Northern China’s largest city to harness advanced skills in three top industries.

This week six delegates from the Shenyang Institute of Engineering (SIE) are visiting Red River College (RRC) to continue growing that relationship and receive a tour of RRC’s Exchange District Campus and Paterson GlobalFoods Institute. The delegates were greeted by RRC President and CEO Paul Vogt at the college’s Notre Dame Campus Monday morning.

The relationship began in 1987 when RRC and SIE exchanged staff and faculty to offer English language training at the SIE campus in Northern China.

Since 2010, students in Shenyang have been able to enroll in a joint degree program for Electrical Engineering Technology, Power Engineering Technology or Hospitality and Tourism Management. These students have the option of completing the entire program in Shenyang, over a period of three years, with curriculum provided by RRC. Another option is to complete their first two-years of study in China and travel to Winnipeg for the final year of their program.

The partnership has grown steadily and now more than 1,000 Chinese students are enrolled in the joint program between RRC and SIE for the 2017/2018 academic year.

“It’s connections like this that really put Red River College, and Winnipeg, on the map as a hub for the engineering and hospitality industries,” said Paul Vogt, president and CEO of Red River College. “The hands-on learning students receive on campus is crucial to their success and we’re happy to be able share that with our partners in Shenyang.”

One of China’s primary industrial centers, Shenyang (population: 8.1 million) is home to some of the country’s leading firms in the aerospace, heavy machinery, defense, automotive, electronics, and software sectors. It is an industrial center and transportation hub for Northeast China, and also the largest political, economic, and cultural center of the region.

“This 30-year joint partnership records the generational dedication to international education,” said Professor Song Huanbin, Chancellor of the Shenyang Institute of Engineering. “Two years ago we made the decision to extend this partnership for another 10 years, and last year our application received the approval from the Ministry of Education (in China). We are confident in expanding and upgrading the cooperation to a new level, which creates a strong model for China-Canada joint partnerships.”

While in Winnipeg the delegates will also visit Assiniboine Park and Zoo and receive a tour of the city’s cultural landmarks. The visit will culminate with a 30th Anniversary Celebration dinner at Jane’s Restaurant, featuring a menu prepared by RRC students.

Red River College currently has international partnerships with institutions in China, Japan and India. These partnerships allow highly qualified international students to fill available seats in full-time, ESL and continuing education programs and brings opportunities to academic departments for faculty exchanges, sharing of academic expertise and practices.