Wenzhou-Kean University

Striving for excellence in building an international university with world-class education, WKU has been dedicated to the principle of “providing students with different ways of development.” In November 2013, the University was accredited by the Middle States Commission on Higher Education. In March 2018, the Bachelor Degree Conferral Evaluation Panel of the Department of Education of Zhejiang Province concluded that WKU had met the qualifications to confer bachelor degrees. In November 2019, WKU was approved to offer 11 graduate-level programs. Being well-knit with Chinese actual conditions and needs in developing regional economy and culture, the University sets up its pedagogical goal that aims to merge Chinese and American teaching methodologies in practice and builds itself into a world-class campus and facilities, professional faculty communities, academic research, and efficient administrative services. Aiming to become a high-level education institution as a fine example of Sino-foreign education partnership, the University strives to cultivate students with a global perspective and strong national identity, pressing ahead China’s higher education reform and better serving regional economic, social, and cultural development. In September 2019, the WKU TOEFL center was unveiled, making Wenzhou the third city in Zhejiang Province to host one. In January 2020, WKU was approved as a GRE test center, becoming the only such center in southern Zhejiang area. The University’s campus expansion project has been listed as one of the major projects for the integrated development of the Yangtze River Delta. WKU’s many international indexes also rank top in China.

The University introduces advanced educational resources from prestigious universities in the U.S. and uses original American textbooks. The entire curriculum is provided by Kean University and all the courses are taught in English. All of the faculty are globally recruited. The University offers small size classes and adopts an inquiry-based, collaborative learning approach. Additionally, China’s national conditions and cultural education are embedded in teaching practices. The University promotes self-directed learning and character development, aiming to cultivate students with a global vision, know-how of international rules and conventions, and strong innovation, creativity, and initiative skills. Embracing our motto, “Start Here, Go Anywhere,” WKU serves as a launchpad for students, preparing them to excel on the global stage and turn their aspirations into reality.

WKU follows a “student-centered” approach, delivering high-quality undergraduate education while steadily expanding its graduate programs. The University comprises six colleges: College of Business and Public Management (CBPM), Michael Graves College, College of Liberal Arts, College of Science, Mathematics, and Technology, College of Education, and Chinese Cultural College. Currently, the University offers 18 undergraduate programs that align with Kean University’s strengths and meet the needs of Zhejiang province across six disciplines, including economics, science, engineering, literature, management, and arts. WKU has established a diverse and mixed curriculum in the field of science, engineering, literature, and arts, with economics and management as its cornerstone. The University boasts three Provincial First-class Disciplines: Applied Economics, Biology, and Business Management. Additionally, programs in Global Business, Computer Science, Finance, Marketing, Graphic Design, English, Biology, Accounting, Architectural Studies, and Mathematical Sciences have been recognized as Provincial First-class Undergraduate Programs. Global Business, Graphic Design, and Computer Science have been designated as Zhejiang Provincial Higher Education Distinctive Programs, and Mathematical Sciences has earned a place in the Wenzhou Municipal Distinctive Program. In collaboration with its counterpart at Kean University in the U.S., CBPM has earned accreditation from the Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business (AACSB), an honor achieved by only 5% of business schools worldwide. The Accounting program has received renewed accreditation from the Certified Practising Accountants Australia (CPA Australia); the Graphic Design program is accredited by the National Association of Schools of Art and Design (NASAD) in the United States. The Architectural Studies program has achieved initial candidacy status with the National Architectural Accrediting Board (NAAB) in the United States. Moreover, the Psychology program is recognized by the International Honor Society of Psychology (Psi Chi). Undergraduate students will graduate with dual degrees from both Wenzhou-Kean University and Kean University, along with a graduation certificate from Wenzhou-Kean University. WKU currently offers nine graduate programs, including Global Management (M.B.A.), Instruction and Curriculum (M.A.), Computer Information Systems (M.S.), Biotechnology Science (M.S.), Architecture (M.Arch.), Psychology (M.A.), Educational Administration (M.A.), Educational Leadership (Ed.D.), and Accounting (M.S.). The University will roll out more graduate programs, including Counseling and Supervision (Ph.D.) and School and Clinical Psychology (Psy.D.). Students will receive a degree from Kean University after graduation.

WKU currently employs approximately 540 faculty and staff, including over 260 faculty from 43 countries and regions. Over 90% of the faculty hold a PhD or the highest degree in their fields. This faculty have collectively published over 1,400 academic papers, including over 600 articles in SCI- and SSCI-indexed international journals as lead authors or corresponding authors. Notably, 26% of these publications appear in journals ranked in the global top 10% by citations, significantly surpassing China’s average. According to Scopus statistics, the Field-Weighted Citation Impact for our 2024 publications was 1.67. Over the past four years, WKU has consistently ranked among China’s top universities in key academic publishing indicators: 21.3% of our papers are among the top 10% most cited globally (Outputs in Top Citation Percentiles), above the Chinese average of 11.6%; 25.1% are published in top 10% of the most cited journals (Publications in Top Journal Percentiles), surpassing the Chinese average of 20.5%, and 67.9% result from international collaboration, exceeding the Chinese average of 18.9%. This exceptional global faculty provide strong support for the University’s commitment to international education.

In 2024, the University enrolled over 1,500 new students, bringing the total student population to about 5,000. Over the past few years, WKU and KU have exchanged more than 2,000 students. To date, WKU has graduated nine cohorts, totaling over 4,000 alumni. Notably, over 65% of graduates have pursued further studies at prestigious universities worldwide, with 62% gaining admission to Top 100 universities by QS World University Rankings, including Harvard University, Columbia University, the University of Pennsylvania, the University of Cambridge, the University of Oxford, the University of Melbourne, the University of Hong Kong, and the University of Toronto. Remarkably, 43% of graduates have been accepted by the world’s Top 50 universities. Additionally, some students continued their studies in China, successfully gaining admissions to esteemed universities such as Peking University, Fudan University, Tongji University, and Southwest University of Political Science and Law. For the graduating class of 2024, the postgraduate enrollment rate stands at 75%, with nearly 60% admitted to the world’s Top 50 universities and 80% entering the Top 100. WKU students also excel on international platforms, such as APEC meetings, the World Youth Leadership Camp, the Youth Leader Summit, and the World Youth Forum, and have earned awards in high-level competitions both in China and abroad, including Microsoft’s Imagine Cup Global Competition and the Mathematical Contest in Modeling. Furthermore, WKU students have published in leading journals such as Frontiers in Microbiology and Bioinformatics, with over 250 papers published in SCI- and SSCI-indexed international journals. They have also attended international academic conferences over 500 times.

Covering a planned area of 494 acres, the campus of Wenzhou-Kean University is nestled in the scenic Li’ao township of Wenzhou. The campus seamlessly blends traditional Chinese layout with American collegiate elements in its buildings and facilities, reflecting its commitment to building a humanistic, eco-friendly, intellectual, and open campus that merges Chinese and American cultures. To date, the first phase of the campus has been completed, featuring both existing and under-construction buildings spanning approximately 300,000 square meters, adequately meeting the University’s educational and teaching needs. The planning for the second phase, covering about 329 acres, is nearly finalized, with ongoing efforts to construct student dormitories (section 3) and faculty housing (phase 2) to pave the way for an international, modern, and open university campus. Over the past twelve years, by integrating Chinese and American educational practices, WKU has harmonized the natural beauty of Wenzhou’s mountains and waters with American culture. This unique architectural blend has earned the campus recognition as one of Wenzhou City’s “Top Ten Landmark Buildings,” has been featured in the “Centenary Celebration Showcase,” and stands as a prime example of a “Sponge City Project.”

According to its strategic plan, WKU will host 7,000 on-campus students and employ 400 faculty members by 2027. The University also plans to offer 30 undergraduate and graduate programs while expanding the campus to 380,000 square meters. These initiatives are designed to transform WKU into a model Sino-foreign collaborative university, a bridge for cultural and talent exchange between China and the U.S., a cradle for nurturing future leaders, and a catalyst for local economic development.

Last modified time:  February 17th 2025