UCD showcases Transnational Education leadership in China during Taoiseach’s official visit

On Tuesday, 6 January, UCD contributed to an event in Beijing hosted by the Taoiseach, Micheál Martin, during his official 2026 visit to China. The event showcased Ireland’s Transnational Education (TNE) successes with strategic Chinese partners. Among the partnerships showcased were UCD’s 3 joint colleges in China, the Beijing-Dublin International College (BDIC) with the Beijing University of Technology, the Chang’an-Dublin International College of Transportation (CDIC) with Chang’an University in Xi’an and the Guangzhou-Dublin International College of Life Sciences and Technology (GDIC) with South China Agricultural University in Guangzhou.

Supported by the UCD China Joint Colleges Office, BDIC, CDIC and GDIC support UCD’s mission as Ireland’s Global University and contribute to the UCD Strategy to 2030: Breaking Boundaries, under the Strategic Initiative of Irish Roots, Global Reach. 

Twelve Irish HEIs were represented at the TNE event, with over 100 people attending. Coordinated by Education in Ireland, the schedule featured an opening address by H.E. Dr Nicholas O’Brien, Irish Ambassador to the People’s Republic of China, and closing remarks by the Taoiseach. Several major press outlets were in attendance, reporting to both Irish and Chinese audiences. 

Professor Paul Fanning, Provost of UCD’s three joint international colleges in China, introduced UCD’s three colleges at the event. There are over 3,500 students enrolled across ten programmes at BDIC, CDIC and GDIC. Students and staff at these Colleges are able to draw on the rich resources from both Irish and Chinese institutions. His address noted the high quality of students we attract and the positive graduate outcomes for them.

He was also delighted to be able to announce: “that UCD and our three partners will, in the coming months, be renewing our contracts for BDIC, CDIC and GDIC for a period to 2040. These renewals underscore our unwavering dedication to TNE in China and come on foot of separate comprehensive reviews of the three colleges by UCD and prestigious recognition from the Chinese-Foreign Education Committee (CJEC).  Following their detailed review of over 200 Sino-foreign joint ventures earlier this year, BDIC was listed with 15 others in the top tier as “outstanding”, while GDIC and CDIC – the youngest joint colleges to receive any accolade – were both listed as “excellent”, in the next tier, with 10 others.

As part of that renewal we will be adding two new programmes to our offerings: one at GDIC in Microbiology and one at CDIC in Geographical Information Systems, bringing our TNE body to approximately 5,000 students.”