The School of Information Systems (SIS) at Singapore Management University and College of Computer Science at Zhejiang University (ZJU) have entered into an agreement for high-calibre ZJU undergraduates to enrol in SMU Master of IT Business (MITB) programme after completing their first 3 years of undergraduate studies at ZJU.

This is the first time SIS is partnering with a foreign university to offer a fast track programme for MITB students.

The agreement for the SMU-ZJU 3+1.5 Fast-Track MITB Programme was signed by SIS Associate Dean for Postgraduate Professional Education Michelle Cheong and Professor Chen Wenzhi, Vice Dean of the College of Computer Science at ZJU on 10 November 2015 at the 11th Singapore-Zhejiang Economic and Trade Council Meeting held in Shaoxing city, Zhejiang province, China.

The agreement follows the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding by SMU and ZJU with International Enterprise Singapore to collaborate on an Info-Communications Technology (ICT) Global Talent Network (GTN) programme, a platform that brings together ICT talents around the world, connecting to Singapore ICT companies that are keen to engage this talent pool for international business expansion.

Under the terms of the agreement, ZJU undergraduate students who have completed the 3rd year of their undergraduate degree programme at ZJU may apply for conditional admission to the MITB Programme offered by SIS. Successful candidates will receive an offer of admission to the MITB Programme upon commencing the final year of their undergraduate degree programme. Upon completion of the SMU-ZJU 3+1.5 Fast-Tracked MITB Programme, students will be conferred a Bachelor degree in Engineering from ZJU and a MITB degree from SMU.

The first intake of the SMU-ZJU 3+1.5 Fast-Tracked MITB Programme will be in Academic Year 2016. Up to 20 students from ZJU will be admitted.

SIS Associate Professor Michelle Cheong said, “Through this collaboration, we hope to attract outstanding IT students into our master programme, as it will benefit not just the students and faculty members, but also Singapore companies who have a presence in China to recruit these top talents. We look forward to more collaboration initiatives that can leverage on the strengths of both Zhejiang University and SMU.”

Prior to this agreement, SIS already has several collaboration with ZJU, including an undergraduate exchange program with the College of Computer Science, having several ZJU undergraduate students join SIS as research interns, and hiring of ZJU Master and PhD students as research assistants in SIS research centres.

[Photo: IE Singapore signed an MOU with SMU and Zhejiang University (ZJU) to collaborate on an Info-Communications Technology Global Talent Network programme, while SMU and ZJU inked an agreement for the SMU-ZJU 3+1.5 Fast-Track MITB Programme. (R-L) Professor Chen Wenzhi, Vice Dean of College of Computer Science at ZJU, Associate Professor Michelle Cheong of SMU School of Information Systems, and Mr Ho Chee Hin, Group Director of China Group at IE Singapore and Secretary-General of Singapore-Zhejiang Economic & Trade Council.]