TU Dublin Showcases Long-Standing and Future Transnational Education Partnerships During Taoiseach’s Visit to China
TU Dublin’s long-standing commitment to transnational education (TNE) was highlighted during a landmark visit to China by Taoiseach Micheál Martin TD, the first such visit since 2012.
As part of a programme of political, diplomatic and enterprise engagements, the Taoiseach hosted a high-level event in Beijing, organised by Enterprise Ireland, to celebrate the success of Irish universities in delivering transnational education in China. The event underscored the strategic importance of education partnerships in strengthening Ireland–China relations and fostering long-term collaboration in research, innovation and people-to-people links.
Transnational education has grown steadily in recent years, with Irish higher education institutions now delivering 110 joint programmes in China, enrolling more than 12,000 students across undergraduate, master’s and doctoral levels. These programmes span key disciplines including engineering, medicine, event management and the digital economy.
TU Dublin has been an active contributor to this success story for more than two decades. The University’s collaboration with Nanjing Tech University (NJTU) dates back over 20 years and has delivered joint degree programmes in Pharmaceutical Science and Civil Engineering. TU Dublin’s partnership with Hainan University (HNU) in Event Management also recently marked its 10th anniversary, reflecting the University’s strengths in applied, industry-focused education and its ability to respond to the evolving needs of global sectors such as tourism and events. Looking ahead, TU Dublin will further expand its transnational footprint with the launch of a new collaboration with Beijing University of Chemical Technology (BUCT), scheduled to begin in the 2026–27 academic year.
Speaking ahead of the visit, Taoiseach Micheál Martin emphasised the importance of education cooperation, noting that “in Beijing, there will be a particular focus on further and higher education – an important area with a lot of potential for both partners, and where cooperation will yield longer-term dividends in terms of research and innovation, and people-to-people links.”
TU Dublin’s participation in this milestone visit reflects the University’s continued commitment to global engagement, academic collaboration and delivering impactful education through strong international partnerships.
Photo Caption: An Taoiseach, Micheál Martin TD, with Professor Wang Lin (HNU) and Dr Robert Flood, Head of International Engagement, TU Dublin, at the event in Beijing to celebrate Ireland’s contribution to TNE in China.