Students will be able to take advantage of learning on both sides of the Atlantic as a pioneering partnership between Swansea University and colleagues at Trent University in Canada is extended.
[aoa id=”1″]The latest collaboration between the two institutions follows on from the development of a dual Law degree – which welcomes its first cohort of students in September – and will open up opportunities in the fields of Science and Engineering.[/aoa]
It sees students spending two years of their first degree at the Ontario university before coming to Wales to study Chemical Engineering and going on to graduate with both a BSc from Trent and a BEng from Swansea University.
Swansea University’s academic lead on the project, Professor Cris Arnold, from the College of Engineering, explained that the dual degree agreement offered exciting opportunities for students.
He said: “As far as we are aware, this degree is unique. The aim of this programme is to produce qualified engineers who are also scientists with international experience.
“Not only will the students travel, live and study for a significant period in another country but they will also have the opportunity of undertaking placements which will contribute towards professional engineer status in Canada.”
Professor Arnold said the BEng from Swansea is accredited by the Institution of Chemical Engineers and this would apply to the graduates from the scheme.
He added: “Our colleagues at Trent now hope to recruit 20 students and there has already been significant interest in the course.”
Trent, which currently has more than 8,000 students, is listed among the top 3.4 per cent of universities in the world and is Canada’s top ranked university for scholarships and bursaries.
Dr Leo Groarke, President and Vice Chancellor of Trent University, said: “It’s exciting to be building upon our strong partnership with Swansea University and together creating opportunities that provide students interested in engineering with the ability to take on a dual degree while enhancing their education with a global experience.
“This innovative new programme is another example that showcases Trent’s commitment to providing students with significant, meaningful educational experiences that go beyond the ordinary in preparing them for success.”
The link between the Canadian university and Swansea was first established in 1988 by the School of Business as a student exchange link and since 2009 12 students have gone on to benefit from the exchange programme.
In 2016 Swansea’s School of Law expanded the relationship by teaming up with Trent to offer a dual BA/BBA LLB degree and the first cohort of about 22 students will be welcomed to Swansea in September.
The collaboration with Trent is just one of many already established by the university with academic institutions and businesses across the world.
Bernadette Stratford, of the Academic Partnership Directorate which oversees the relationships and a Trent alumna herself, said: “We aim to bring together institutions and organisations to create and develop innovative international programmes, collaborations and strategic partnerships with world-class universities to benefit our students.”
