If you're a student interested in China, what could be better than receiving training in China from two of the world's leading institutions for teaching and research? It is on this premise that the London School of Economics and Political Science and the Peking University Summer School Program is built on.

Both institutions are respected for the quality of their education. LSE was founded in 1895 and has had the distinction of counting 13 Noble laureates among its students and staff. Peking University, affectionately called Beida by the Chinese, was founded in 1898 and is known as one of the best universities, and most selective, in China.

"We started with a lecture series exchange about 2002-2003. Our deputy directors and academics gave lectures and Justin Li, the director of the Centre for China Economic Research and other professors from Peking University (PKU) gave a lecture here at the London School of Economics and Political Science (LSE)," Dr. Gabriella Lombardo, PhD, project manager of the program, explains.

From a very simple structure of getting to know the other institution, the cooperation was born, and in 2003, the first year of the LSE-PKU Summer School was launched. The program, which goes on over a period of two weeks, is an intensive course, covering at present six courses which varies from management to economics, accounting, international relations and law.

"The program involves 48 hours of contact with lecturers plus 12 hours of classes and an exam at the end. The academics make available a reading list to be completed before the start of the program, but we also provide a reading pack for the classes and students can interact and discuss with the academics all the time, in class, often at lunch and they spend the whole day with them so they can have extra information."

Dr. Lombardo also makes clear that the program is not an exchange. "It is a program which is jointly delivered by both universities in Beijing at the PKU campus. We share teachers, expertise and tight control of academic standards. Both institutions respond to the highest requirement for academic quality and we need to respect rules from both countries. At LSE, we follow the rules set by the Quality Assurance Agency for Higher Education. It is not a proper exchange program but a joint one. We deliver an award from both institutions."

The program itself comes highly recommended. "We haven't advertised it all over newspapers or anything. So, really, it's been students talking to each other, saying 'I really had a fantastic time there, do apply next time.'" Dr. Lombardo says that 85 percent of applicants say that friends have recommended the program to them. "I think that's the best publicity."

Growing each year

Dr. Danny Quah and Dr. Gabriella Lombardo of the LSE-PKU Summer School Program. (Image: Radio86)

Establishing a relationship with PKU was key to getting the program started. "The major challenge was to understand each other about what the objective was. We both were doing this not because we were thinking about making money. We were thinking about delivering something jointly. Because for us, this is the means to consolidate the relationship with PKU. It's the means for academics to know each other. Academics involved in the program can talk about their own specific research interest, when they have to talk about specific programs as well."

During the first year of the program, three courses were offered to 90 students. In 2007, 190 students signed up. "The program is open to to any student or individual around the world. Our students come from 35 different nationalities. What is interesting is the growing percentage of professionals, people who at a certain point say, 'Oh, I want a better understanding about China's development growth, what China development is at the moment, the economic growth.' They come to Beijing for two weeks and they find it extremely stimulating."

Double degree programs

The Summer School is just one of the LSE's many programs involving Chinese institutions. "We have just launched a double master's degree in Global Media and Communications with Fudan University in Shanghai. We also have a double degree with Peking University in International Affairs."

"The way a double degree works is extremely interesting. It's post-graduate level. The student has to apply to both institutions and both institutions screen the applicant. The student spends one year in China and one year in London. The student is screened by two of the best institutions in the world. A successful candidate gets a degree from each of the institutions."

According to Dr. Lombardo, the double degree gives a definite edge to students. "Depending on the students' needs, they can use the degree as a double degree or as a degree from each institution. Students think this program really makes a difference because a double degree has a different competitive advantage compared to lots of other degrees around."

Building a global citizenry

Dr. Danny Quah, PhD, chair of the Summer School Program, adds that the project is geared towards building a global citizenry. "LSE has always tried to do that. Probably through our ties with the Commonwealth, we've always had greater participation from students from many more countries than any other university in the world."

Dr. Quah says that at present, foreign students make up the majority of the student body at the LSE. "Foreign students now account for 70 percent of the LSE population. That's large by any comparison. And of that 70 percent, 44 percent are from Asia, which is by far the largest bloc. At the same time we have good representation from the rest of EU and North America. This kind of global citizenship that we're building at the LSE, I see our Summer School Program as part of that."

Engaging Chinese students in academic discussions, in Dr. Quah's view, is one of the rewards of holding the program in Beijing. "As Dr. Lombardo says, one of the primary goals of this initiative is to try to get students engaged in an academic discussion, in understanding academic ideas. And we would like students from China, just as we would like students from elsewhere to participate."

"Part of the pay-off from being in Beijing is that students in China are part of this rapidly growing economy. They're seeing goals and aspirations and possibilities open up for them. They want to know the ideas that will be helpful to them. For the rest of the world looking on, well, we have an interest in participating in China's economic growth. We would like to understand that economy and that culture better."

"The program is a wonderful opportunity to find out about all that," Dr. Quah continues. "Trying to celebrate all these cultural differences and then developing an understanding that says these cultural differences are a good thing and we have lots to learn from each other, I think that's always been the mission at the LSE."

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For more information about the LSE-PKU Summer School Program, please visit their website.