Heriot-Watt celebrates milestone anniversaries and new Joint Education Programmes in China

Heriot-Watt University is marking a year of milestones in China, celebrating a decade of successful partnership with Xidian University and five years with Ocean University of China, while also launching two new Joint Education Programmes (JEPs) that expand opportunities for students in areas critical to the future of industry and society.

Since 2015, Heriot-Watt has partnered with Xidian University in Xi’an to deliver a JEP in Telecommunications Engineering, a collaboration that this year reaches its 10th anniversary. The programme has already produced highly skilled graduates contributing to China’s digital economy with 95% progressing onto postgraduate studies.

The high-quality learning and teaching environment offered to students is reflected in the strong proportion who go on to achieve First-Class degrees. For example, in the JEP with Xidian University in Telecommunications Engineering, around 69% of students have graduated with First-Class honours. Similarly, in the JEP with OUC in Robotics, 45% of the 2024 graduates obtained a First-Class degree, rising to 57% in 2025.

Building on this success, this year also marks the launch of a new JEP between the two universities in Data Science and Software Engineering, equipping future talent for a world increasingly shaped by artificial intelligence and digital innovation.

With Ocean University of China in Qingdao, Heriot-Watt is celebrating the fifth anniversary of its Robotics JEP, a programme which supports industries central to Shandong Province’s economic development, including marine technology, electric power, and medical robotics. To deepen this collaboration, a new Computational Physics JEP has been established in 2025, providing students with advanced expertise in modelling, simulation, and scientific computing, skills vital for scientific discovery and technological progress.

This has resulted in multiple students being recommended for postgraduate study at leading US, Chinese and UK universities. Together, these programmes are already making an impact with hundreds of students currently enrolled across the four JEPs. Alumni are entering the workforce with enhanced international experience, improved career prospects, and exposure to both Chinese and UK education systems.

Industries in telecommunications, robotics, software engineering, and physics research are benefiting from a growing pipeline of highly trained graduates.

Professor Richard A. Williams, Principal and Vice-Chancellor of Heriot-Watt University, said: “We are proud to celebrate these important anniversaries with our valued partners Xidian University and Ocean University of China. For over a decade, our Joint Education Programmes have enabled students to benefit from world-class teaching, international experience, and direct connections to industry. The launch of new programmes in Data Science, Software Engineering, and Computational Physics further demonstrates our shared commitment to shaping the future of education and addressing the talent needs of tomorrow’s economy.”

Senior leaders from Xidian University and Ocean University of China have also welcomed the anniversaries and expansion of the partnerships, emphasising the benefits for students, local industries, and research collaboration.

The partnerships also connect to Heriot-Watt’s broader presence in China, including its China office in Beijing, which supports collaboration, student engagement, and alumni relations. In addition to education, the University continues to develop research collaborations with Chinese partners in areas such as robotics, marine science, and energy systems.

These longstanding relationships reflect Heriot-Watt University’s global vision and its commitment to delivering education and research that has real-world impact. By expanding into new subject areas and strengthening existing collaborations, the University is ensuring that students and industries in both China and the UK can thrive in a fast-changing world.