The Minister for Education and Skills, Jan O'Sullivan TD, officially opened 3U Partnership's China Office in Beijing's award winning Galaxy SOHO urban complex on Sunday, 26 October 2014. The event coincides with the Education in Ireland mission to China, organised by Enterprise Ireland and led by Minister O'Sullivan.

The 3U Partnership combines the complementary strengths of Dublin City University (DCU), Maynooth University and the Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland (RCSI).

In keeping with the Irish Government's policy to encourage shared services, the 3U China Office brings these three distinctive and leading higher education institutions together to promote world-class education and research opportunities in Ireland to Chinese students.

The 3U China Office delivers on the internationalisation ambitions of its Partner Institutions, DCU, Maynooth University and RCSI, by recruiting high-calibre Chinese students at both undergraduate and postgraduate levels and by developing strategic academic (both teaching and research driven) collaborations with top-ranking Chinese universities such as Beijing Foreign Studies University, the Communication University of China and the Capital University of Economics and Business.

In welcoming the Minister to open the 3U China Office, Professor Philip Nolan, President of Maynooth University, said: "The time is right for 3U Partnership to extend our global reach and establish a strong identity in China. The 3U China Office symbolises the commitment of all three Partner Institutions, DCU, Maynooth University and RCSI, to working collaboratively to promote themselves both collectively and individually as quality higher education destinations for Chinese students. By welcoming more Chinese students to 3U Partnership Institutions, we aim to expand our global reach and bring greater diversity and fresh perspectives to our university communities, both student and staff."

Welcoming the initiative Minister O'Sullivan said: "This is a very significant development on the part of the 3U Partnership and marks an important advance in the strategy to attract increasing numbers of Chinese students to study in Ireland. International students have a significant impact on the Irish economy and also contribute hugely in terms of developing cultural and business ties. I commend the three partner institutions on this exciting collaborative initiative, which I am confident will lead to considerable success over the coming years."

The 3U China Office will play a strategic role in recruiting more Chinese students for all three Partner Institutions. In turn, these students will graduate and become ambassadors for the three Institutions, and indeed Ireland, when they return to China. This virtuous circle will strengthen the already extensive relationships between China and Ireland.

Dr Ruth Davis, Director of 3U Partnership, said: "We are extremely excited by the opening of the 3U China Office. It is testament to all three Partner Institutions' commitment to promoting Irish education internationally and, in particular, to attracting greater numbers of Chinese students to Ireland. We have a lot to learn from this dynamic and progressive country, where higher education is highly valued and we look forward to working with our Chinese higher education partners to develop innovative education and research opportunities for Chinese students."

Currently, 3U Partnership offers Chinese students a guaranteed pathway to undergraduate programmes at DCU and Maynooth University through the 3U Pathway University Foundation Programme.

This year-long programme aims to prepare Chinese and other international students for undergraduate study at the two universities. It also offers them the vital bridge between the education they have already received in their home country and the requirements they must meet to study at one of the partner universities. Through the combined marketing initiatives of the 3U China Office, 3U Partnership expects to attract ambitious students who understand how an internationally recognised qualification can enhance their career prospects and their own personal development.