Sussex Artificial Intelligence Institute, Zhejiang Gongshang University
Study for a Sussex degree in your home country – our partnership with Zhejiang Gongshang University China, is training hundreds of students in artificial intelligence related courses.
About the partnership
In 2020, we were extremely proud to launch The Sussex Artificial Intelligence Institute, Zhejiang Gongshang University (ZJSU); the first of its kind in China. The Institute offers two undergraduate and two postgraduate degrees in Robotics and Artificial Intelligence.
With close to 1,000 students enrolled, our programmes are now operating at full capacity. The Institute offers an exciting new way to go beyond physical space, and considers broader global and societal needs. In 2022, the Institute was shortlisted as a finalist for Education Partnership of the Year at the British Business Awards of the British Chamber of Commerce in China.
The teaching, curriculum, regulations and student support have been designed so that students benefit from a combined ZJSU and Sussex experience. Their learning is shaped by UK teaching which influences their outlook once they graduate, opening up opportunities that they wouldn’t have without the joint degree programme. This is especially important in our multi-cultural and rapidly changing world. Two cohorts of postgraduate students have now completed their studies, with a majority achieving the classification of distinction. These outstanding achievements were celebrated at a first in-person graduation ceremony in June 2023.
Sussex and ZJSU both benefit from our close collaboration, with teachers developing their experience, knowledge and industry links by working closely with their UK or Chinese counterparts. The joint Institute gives Sussex access to Chinese markets and industries enabling broader, stronger and intriguing collaboration opportunities while students benefit from a powerful combination of shared knowledge and perspectives, skills and resources.
PhD: Engineering, University of Sussex - Full CSC Scholarship
Teaching and student support
The Institute is supported by the Sussex Department of Language Studies who have provided co-designed pre-sessional English courses that have given students a detailed understanding of the English language, enabling them to make the most of their learning experience. We have also established the Joint Institute Ambassador scheme where Sussex students from the UK campus work with and support our Sussex students in China, helping them to adapt to new ways of working and sharing their perspectives.
We work with ZJSU on recruitment and promotion through facilitating workshops and meeting with prospective students.
The Institute opens up a wide range of opportunities, providing pathways to teacher training, research exchange, knowledge transfer and beyond.
In the Summer of 2023, we had:
- 31 students from ZJSU attended a Summer School at Sussex.
- eight students from the Institute have also taken part in the annual Sussex International Junior Research Associate programme
- seven students came from the Institute to start PhDs at Sussex in 2022/23 and 2023/24, supported by scholarships and fee waivers
- five students from Sussex travelled to ZJSU for a Summer School in 2023, supported by the Turing Programme
- 101 Sussex students have also taken part in a Chinese language and culture course delivered by the Foreign Language School at ZJSU in December 2022.
PhD: Engineering, University of Sussex - Sussex AI Institute ZJSU, Full Scholarship
Student interviews from the Sussex Artificial Intelligence Institute, Zhejiang Gongshang University
- Video transcript
[Intro MUSIC: Fast paced piano music]
[TITLE card: University of Sussex and Zhejiang Gongshang logo]
[TITLE card: What is it like to study at the Sussex Artificial Intelligence Institute, Zhejiang Gongshang University?]
Yufei BA, (Master’s Programme Award Title: Robotics and Autonomous Systems, PhD subject: Mechanical Engineering, Queen Mary University of London, Scholarship Awarded: CSC, Full scholarship): It’s a fantastic experience with a positive learning atmosphere. Don’t worry about the challenges and your background. Many excellent teachers and classmates will help you together.
Hao ZHANG, (Master’s programme: Artificial Intelligence and Adaptive Systems, PhD Subject: Informatics, University of Sussex, Scholarship Awarded: Sussex AI Institute ZJSU, Full scholarship): Convenient is the first word that comes to my mind. Just because everything is available here. I’d like to stay in the lab from morning till night. For study, I can just go to the teacher’s office next door. In daily life, I can go straight downstairs and run at the playground. The campus is so beautiful that I’d like to stay here all day.
Jinjin WANG, (Master’s Programme Award Title: Robotics and Autonomous Systems, PhD Subject: Engineering, University of Sussex, Scholarship Awarded: Sussex AI Institute ZJSU, Full scholarship): Well, it was a great and worthwhile experience. There are many advance equipment such as 3D printers and laser cutters, which makes it more convenient for us to make equipment and make our robot models. Besides, the teachers are very responsible, no matter how difficult and simple questions you have, they will do their best to answer them.
Huayang WU, (Master’s Programme Award Title: Robotics and Autonomous Systems, PhD Subject: Engineering, University of Sussex, Scholarship Awarded: CSC Full Scholarship): It was a very interesting and wonderful experience. The teaching and learning style are different here. During my previous study, exams are the main form of evaluation. But when I studied at the Joint Institute, I need to deliver the presentation, write essay, and prepare for group discussion. Also, many teachers are there to help you. It is very good.
Yunfeng MA, (Master’s programme: Artificial Intelligence and Adaptive Systems, PhD Subject: Engineering, University of Sussex, Scholarship Awarded: CSC Full Scholarship): Studying at the Sussex Artificial Intelligence Institute, Zhejiang Gongshang University is a wonderful experience in my life. Zhejiang Gongshang University is my alma mater. It is my honour to be back here to finish my master’s degree. My classmates and teachers are very patient and kind, they offered me tremendous help especially after I broke my bones in a snowboarding accident. We had regular student activities, and we had great time here.
[TITLE card: What do you think is the best part of your study at the Sussex Artificial Intelligence Institute, Zhejiang Gongshang University?]
Yufei BA: Some students think the short length of the programme is the best part. But I believe the patient and detailed guidance from teachers that cultivates our interest in academic research step by step is the best part.
Hao ZHANG: The cooperation with my classmates helped me a lot. In the learning of artificial intelligence, it contains many parts of knowledge. For me I can only handle one part of knowledge. If I don’t communicate with others I can never think outside the box. So the communication is important and for this I’d like to cooperate with my classmates.
Jinjin WANG: It completely adopts the British teaching system. There are many cooperative projects that can be completed with classmates, the coursework can help us better understand the whole course. The study experience here is brand new to me as it is different from my previous one, I really enjoyed it.
Huayang WU: I think the best part is that we have a lot of group projects. We need to design various robots, for example writing robot, 5-bar robot, it is very helpful to improve our practical ability. We also need to work with teammates to complete final report and the presentation. We can learn a lot in this process.
Yunfeng MA: We have two supervisors, one is from Sussex and one is from ZJSU. So we have academic support from both universities.
[TITLE card: Anything else you want to say about the Sussex Artificial Intelligence Institute, Zhejiang Gongshang University?]
Yufei BA: Thanks Prof. Kun Liang for his strong reference letters, and thanks Prof Hareesh Godaba for his generosity and encouragement in my process of PhD application.
Hao ZHANG: I would like to express my thanks to my supervisor Julie Weeds and Zhou Jingjing, they provided me a lot of help during my master’s degree. When I was writing my papers, they helped me to revise the paper and gave me suggestions. Without their help, I can never achieve such achievement. They are not just my academic mentors in study, they are also role modules in my life.
Jinjin WANG: Thank you Sussex and thank you Zhejiang Gongshang for providing me a great opportunity to study my master’s degree and providing me a full scholarship for doing my PhD.
Huayang WU: Well I must say thank you Sussex and thank you Zhejiang Gongshang. Sussex and Zhejiang Gongshang have helped me a lot during my one and a half years of study.
Yunfeng MA: Thank you, Prof. Chuanhuang Li and Dr. Arash, I can’t graduate without your guidance. Here I want to say thanks for everyone I met in the Joint Institute. It’s a long list so I can’t mention every name here. I am grateful for everyone and remember these names in my heart.
[TITLE card: What do you want to say to our new students? Any wishes?]
Yufei BA: Don’t be shy. Be positive and diligent in your study. Be honest with yourself. Chance is for those who are prepared. I hope all of you enjoy your journey during your master’s programme.
Hao ZHANG: I hope students read more papers and don’t be stingy with the time they spend on study. Master’s study is a research-based learning process. A lot of material is no longer available on blogs. But the papers always represent the apex of the current academic field. If you can get into the habit of reading papers every week, it will give you edge when you are finding a job or applying for further studies.
Jinjin WANG: I hope all of you have a brand-new experience here and welcome a bright future through your effort.
Huayang WU: Hope you strive with all your might in the new term, keep improving, live well and study well.
Yunfeng MA: Choose the life that you want, wish everyone can enjoy life and study.
[END CARD. University of Sussex and Zhejiang Gongshang University logo]