For the next 20 years, Red River College will be able to offer joint diplomas with the Shenyang Institute of Engineering (SIE) in China, one of RRC’s oldest international post-secondary partners.

As part of the new agreement, signed earlier this week, RRC and SIE will offer joint diplomas in Electrical Engineering Technology, Power Engineering Technology, and Hospitality and Tourism Management, giving students and instructors from both institutions the opportunity to participate in exchanges and study abroad.

“We have enjoyed a mutually beneficial partnership with the Shenyang Institute of Engineering for more than 27 years,” says David Rew (shown, seated), interim president at RRC. “This new agreement will allow us to continue to offer high quality education to our students, and to grow our international education program here in Manitoba.”

The College’s work in international education began in 1987, when the partnership with SIE was first struck. Following that, the College continued to expand its mandate and in 1994 opened the Department of International Education — welcoming a Malaysian student as RRC’s first official international learner.

“As a leader in applied learning, RRC is in a very strong position to work with institutions like the Shenyang Institute of Engineering, to develop these joint programs and expand our abilities to continue to attract international students,” said Eddy Lau (shown above, at left), RRC’s acting director of International Education.

“We continue to recruit more international students each year, and our international students continue to enrich the global learning environment we have cultivated at the College.”

This year, RRC has over 800 international students participating in studies and joint programs. On average, the College has seen a 27 per cent increase in international student enrolment from year to year.