Recently, the Strathclyde Maritime Institute of Engineering, Dalian Maritime University—a joint education institute established by Dalian Maritime University (DMU) and University of Strathclyde, UK—was officially approved by the Ministry of Education. This achievement marks a significant milestone in the University’s efforts to thoroughly implement the guiding principles of the Fourth Plenary Session of the 20th CPC Central Committee. It further optimizes the University’s international education framework and represents a proactive step forward in its mission to build a world-class, research-oriented maritime university with Chinese characteristics.

The Strathclyde Maritime Institute of Engineering, Dalian Maritime University, is a non-independent legal entity affiliated with the University. It is scheduled to commence student enrollment in 2026, with an annual intake of 300 students. The Institute will initially offer three undergraduate programs: Mechanical Design, Manufacturing and Automation, Electronic Information Engineering, and Naval Architecture and Ocean Engineering. It will comprehensively introduce the high-quality curriculum systems, teaching methodologies, and faculty resources of the University of Strathclyde, implementing a “4+0” cultivation model. Upon completion of their studies, students will be awarded the Graduation Certificate and Bachelor’s Degree from DMU, as well as a Bachelor’s Degree from the University of Strathclyde, effectively achieving “international education without going abroad.”

University of Strathclyde possesses strong expertise in engineering disciplines, which aligns closely with the distinctive strengths and academic advantages of DMU. Since establishing their partnership in 2013, the two universities have carried out multi-level joint talent cultivation programs spanning undergraduate, master’s, and doctoral education, yielding substantial collaborative achievements. In March 2026, the two institutions formally signed a cooperation agreement to expand the scope of collaboration and elevate the level of partnership through the joint establishment of a Chinese-foreign cooperative education institution. This also marks the first Chinese-foreign cooperative education institution established by the University of Strathclyde in China.

The successful approval of the Strathclyde Maritime Institute of Engineering, Dalian Maritime University represents an important step forward in DMU’s efforts to implement national strategies and further expand educational opening-up. Moving forward, the Institute will draw on Dalian Maritime University’s profound strengths and longstanding expertise in maritime education, together with University of Strathclyde’s world-leading capabilities in engineering disciplines. With a distinctive focus on the maritime industry and a core mission of advancing excellence in engineering education, the Institute is committed to building a high-level, internationally oriented education hub with a strong foundation and global outlook. It aims to cultivate high-caliber interdisciplinary talents equipped with international perspectives, innovative capabilities, and strong practical competence, thereby injecting new vitality into the University’s “Double First-Class” initiative and the innovative development of global maritime education.

Further Reading

University of Strathclyde is a prestigious public research university with a long and distinguished history dating back to Anderson’s Institution, founded in 1796. Located in the heart of Glasgow, Scotland’s largest city, the University is recognized as one of the world’s leading international technological universities. The University of Strathclyde was named “University of the Year” by Times Higher Education in both 2012 and 2019, becoming the first university in the United Kingdom to receive this honor twice. It has also been awarded the Queen’s Anniversary Prizes, the highest national honor in UK higher education, on four separate occasions. In the latest 2026 Daily Mail UK university rankings, the University placed 6th nationally. In the QS World University Rankings 2026, it ranked 251st globally and was recognized as the fastest-rising UK university among the world’s top 300 institutions. In the most recent UK Research Excellence Framework assessment (REF2021), 90% of its research outputs were rated as either “world-leading” or “internationally excellent.” In addition, the University was named “Scottish University of the Year” by The Sunday Times Good University Guide 2026.