Shenandoah University, Yangtze Normal University Welcome Inaugural Class For Dual-Degree Programs
The universities announced a landmark partnership in April 2026 that established dual-degree bachelor’s degrees in engineering physics and computer engineering
Shenandoah University and Yangtze Normal University welcomed the inaugural Class of 2030 to their Sino-foreign cooperative education programs during an opening ceremony in September 2026.
Shenandoah University President Tracy Fitzsimmons, Ph.D., joined the ceremony virtually, while Dean of SU Asia Yvonne Chen, Ph.D., led Shenandoah’s delegation in person. YZNU Vice President Wen Wu, Ph.D., administrators and faculty from the Yangtze Normal’s School of Robotics Engineering, and 170 newly admitted students also attended.
In April, Shenandoah and Yangtze Normal announced a landmark partnership through which the universities established two dual-degree bachelor’s degrees in engineering physics and computer engineering that launched in Fall 2026.
Dr. Wu described September’s opening ceremony as both the beginning of the students’ university journeys and a new chapter in the partnership between the two institutions. Over the four-year program, he said, students will experience different approaches to teaching and learning in China and the United States, strengthening their judgment and learning to engage thoughtfully across different perspectives.
Jiangbo Huang, Ph.D., dean of YZNU’s School of Robotics Engineering, encouraged students to remain curious, share ideas, and take advantage of opportunities to study in the United States. He emphasized that experiencing another culture and learning environment can help students view their academic disciplines from new perspectives and broaden their horizons through cross-cultural engagement.
As part of the ceremony, Dr. Chen presented Shenandoah University student ID cards to student representatives, symbolizing their entry into the Shenandoah community. The partnership creates opportunities for cross-border learning and academic exchange while giving students access to educational resources, faculty mentors and peers across both institutions. Students were encouraged to build strong academic foundations, develop professional expertise and make full use of the international opportunities available through the program.
Shenandoah University and Yangtze Normal University will continue to strengthen their partnership and explore new approaches to international cooperative education. Through this collaboration, the two institutions aim to prepare highly skilled engineering graduates with global perspectives and contribute to continued educational exchange between China and the United States.
