Wenzhou–Kean University

温州肯恩大学

Type

Private university

Established

2014; 10 years ago

Location

Wenzhou

Zhejiang

China

Website

WKU English Website
WKU Chinese Website

Chinese name

Simplified Chinese

温州肯恩大学

Traditional Chinese

溫州肯恩大學

Transcriptions
Standard Mandarin
Hanyu Pinyin	Wēnzhōu Kěnēn Dàxué

Wenzhou–Kean University is a university in Wenzhou, Zhejiang, China. It was established in 2014 as a joint venture between Wenzhou University and the Kean University of New Jersey.^[1]

In March 2014, the Ministry of Education of China approved the establishment of Wenzhou–Kean University. The university received its accreditation to confer bachelor's degrees in 2018 and to confer professional graduate degrees in 2019.^[1]

The construction project and all costs of operating Wenzhou–Kean University will be paid for through tuition and financing provided by the municipal and provincial governments in China. There will be no cost to Kean University or the state of New Jersey.^[2] The partnership will be with Wenzhou University, a institution in Zhejiang Province, which will bear the entire cost, estimated to exceed $60 million. This funding will cover the construction of the planned 300-acre campus, as well as all faculty expenses and the daily operational costs of the school.^[3]

Academic freedom and politics

A dispute over Kean University's campus in Wenzhou, China, escalated when Randi Weingarten, head of the American Federation of Teachers, criticized the university for compromising American values by altering the employment status of its Wenzhou–Kean faculty, including over 50 U.S. citizens. Weingarten's comments were rebuked by Kean University. The controversy sparked calls for more stringent state oversight of New Jersey's higher education international partnerships. Amidst ongoing debates about academic integrity and the role of the Chinese government in the partnership, New Jersey's Secretary of Higher Education, Zakiya Smith-Ellis, is assessing the situation.^[4]

Job postings that allegedly favored Chinese Communist Party (CCP) affiliates for non-faculty roles were reported, supposedly indicating that academic freedom was threatened.^[5] An anonymous former instructor at Wenzhou–Kean recounted experiences of feeling threatened by Chinese administrative figures who were CCP members for discussing prohibited topics. They claimed that faculty members were explicitly instructed to avoid a series of sensitive issues including the Tiananmen Square demonstrations of 1989, the political unrest in Hong Kong, the incarceration of Uyghurs in Xinjiang Province, and the question of Taiwan’s sovereignty.^[6]

References

^ a b "Minisites | THEunijobs". www.timeshighereducation.com. Retrieved 2024-04-05.
^ "Administrative Report: Kean University To Open The First American University In China", Administrative Report Archived 2006-09-01 at the Wayback Machine; Union, New Jersey; June 12, 2006.
^ Koblin, John (2006-05-14). "A Far-Eastern Campus for Kean". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved 2023-11-19.
^ NJ.com, Adam Clark | NJ Advance Media for (2018-11-29). "The battle over an N.J. college's China campus just got really ugly — and personal". nj. Retrieved 2024-04-05.
^ Heyboer, Kelly (2015-07-23). "Communists 'preferred' for jobs at Kean-China, ad says". nj. Retrieved 2024-04-05.
^ Knox, Liam. "Is There a Future for U.S. Campuses in China?". Inside Higher Ed. Retrieved 2024-04-05.

External links

Wenzhou–Kean University

v t e Kean University
Campuses	Campuses Main Campus Liberty Hall East Campus Ocean County satellite campus Wenzhou, China
Academics	Colleges Nathan Weiss Graduate College College of Business and Public Admninistration College of Education College of Humanities and Social Sciences College of Natural, Applied, and Health Sciences College of Visual and Performing Arts Schools Robert Busch School of Design School of Accounting and Finance School of Communication Disorders and Deafness School of Criminal Justice and Public Administration School of Curriculum and Teaching School of Environmental and Life Sciences School of General Studies School for Global Innovation and Education School of Management, Marketing and International Business School of Natural Sciences School of Nursing School of Psychology School of Social Sciences
Research and arts	Holocaust Recourse Center Kean University Human Rights Institute Liberty Hall New Jersey Center for Science, Technology and Mathematics Premiere Stages The Tower Wynona Moore Lipman Ethnic Studies Center
Athletics	Kean Cougars football Football coaches New Jersey Athletic Conference
People	Alumni, faculty, Liberty Hall people, and Kean University presidents

v t e Sino-foreign cooperative universities
Guangdong	Chinese University of Hong Kong, Shenzhen Guangdong Technion – Israel Institute of Technology Hong Kong University of Science and Technology (Guangzhou) Shenzhen MSU–BIT University United International College
Jiangsu	Duke Kunshan University Xi'an Jiaotong–Liverpool University
Shanghai	New York University Shanghai
Zhejiang	University of Nottingham Ningbo China Wenzhou–Kean University

v t e Higher Education Institutions in Zhejiang
List of universities and colleges in China • Department of Education of Zhejiang Province
Military	People’s Armed Police: China Coast Guard Academy_Ningbo^{Deputy Army Level, Degree} • Non-commissioned Officer School_Hangzhou^{Division Level, Degree}
National	Ministry of Education: Zhejiang University^{DBC 985 211 Key P+M Degree} Ministry of State Security: University of International Relations, Hangzhou Campus^{Key Degree}
Hangzhou	Zhejiang University^{DBC 985 211 Key P+M Degree} China Academy of Art^{DBC P+M Degree} University of International Relations, Hangzhou Campus^{Key Degree} Zhejiang University of Technology^{P+M Degree} Zhejiang Gongshang University^{P+M Degree} Hangzhou Dianzi University^{P+M Degree} Zhejiang Chinese Medical University^{P+M Degree} Zhejiang A&F University^{P+M Degree} Zhejiang Sci-Tech University^Degree Hangzhou Normal University^Degree Zhejiang University of Finance and Economics^Degree China Jiliang University^{P+M Degree} Communication University of Zhejiang^{P+M Degree} Zhejiang Conservatory of Music^{P+M Degree} Hangzhou Medical College^Degree Zhejiang Institute of Water Resources and Hydropower^{P+M Degree} Zhejiang University of Science and Technology^Degree Zhejiang Police College^Degree Zhejiang International Studies University^Degree Hangzhou City University^Degree Westlake University^{Private, Degree} Zhongfa Aviation University^{Foreign, Degree} Zhejiang Shuren University^{Private, Degree} Hangzhou Dianzi University Information Engineering School^{Private, Degree, Independent College} Hangzhou Normal University Qianjiang College^{Private, Degree, Independent College} Zhejiang Chinese Medical University Binjiang Institute^{Private, Degree, Independent College} Zhejiang Gongshang University Hangzhou College of Commerce^{Private, Degree, Independent College} Zhejiang Institute of Economics and Trade^{P+M Vocational} Zhejiang Police Vocational Academy^{P+M Vocational} Tourism College of Zhejiang^{P+M Vocational} Zhejiang Institute of Communications^Vocational Zhejiang Financial College^Vocational Zhejiang Vocational College of Commerce^Vocational Zhejiang Institute of Mechanical and Electrical Engineering^Vocational Zhejiang College of Construction^Vocational Zhejiang Technical Institute of Economics^Vocational Zhejiang Vocational Academy of Art^Vocational Hangzhou Vocational and Technical College^Vocational Professional and Technological College of Zhejiang Electric Power^Vocational Zhejiang College of Sports^Vocational Zhejiang Tongji Vocational College of Science and Technology^Vocational Hangzhou Polytechnic^Vocational Zhejiang Vocational College of Special Education^Vocational Zhejiang Yuying College of Vocational and Technology^{Private, Vocational} Zhejiang Changzheng Vocational and Technical College^{Private, Vocational} Hangzhou Wanxiang Polytechnic^{Private, Vocational} Zhejiang Open University^Continuing Hangzhou Workers Part-time University^Continuing Zhejiang Provincial Level Organ Staff Part-time University^Continuing Zhejiang Staff University of Economics and Management^Continuing
Ningbo	Zhejiang University (Ningbo Campus)^{DBC 985 211 Key P+M Degree} Ningbo University^{DBC P+M Degree} Zhejiang Wanli University^Degree Ningbo University of Technology^Degree NingboTech University^Degree Zhejiang Pharmaceutical University^{Professional, Degree} Ningbo University of Finance and Economics^{Private, Degree} University of Nottingham Ningbo China^{Foreign, Degree} College of Science and Technology, Ningbo University^{Private, Degree, Independent College} Zhejiang Business Technology Institute^Vocational Ningbo Polytechnic^Vocational Zhejiang Fashion Institute of Technology^Vocational Ningbo Childhood Education College^{Vocational, Continuing} Ningbo City College of Vocational Technology^Vocational Ningbo College of Health Sciences^Vocational Ningbo Open University^Continuing
Wenzhou	Wenzhou Medical University^{P+M Degree} Wenzhou University^Degree Wenzhou Institute of Technology^Degree Wenzhou Business College^{Private, Degree} Wenzhou-Kean University^{Foreign, Degree} Wenzhou Medical University Renii College^{Private, Degree, Independent College} Zhejiang Industry and Trade Polytechnic^Vocational Zhejiang College of Security Technology^Vocational Wenzhou Vocational and Technical College^Vocational Wenzhou Vocational College of Science & Technology^Vocational Zhejiang Dongfang Polytechnic^{Private, Vocational} City University of Wenzhou (Wenzhou Open University, Wenzhou Workers Spare-time College)^Continuing
Jiaxing	Zhejiang University (Haining International Campus)^{DBC 985 211 Key P+M Degree} Jiaxing University^Degree Jiaxing Nanhu University^Degree Tongji Zhejiang College^{Private, Degree, Independent College} Oriental Institute of Zhejiang University of Finance and Economics^{Private, Degree, Independent College} Jiaxing Vocational and Technical College^Vocational Jiaxing Nanyang Polytechnic Institute^{Private, Vocational} Jiaxing Education College^Continuing
Huzhou	Huzhou University^Degree Huzhou College^Degree Huzhou Vocational and Technical College^Vocational Zhejiang Yuxiang Vocational and Technical College^{Private, Vocational}
Shaoxing	Shaoxing University^Degree Zhejiang Yuexiu University^{Private, Degree} Zhijiang College of Zhejiang University of Technology^{Private, Degree, Independent College} College of Technology and Art of Zhejiang Sci-tech University^{Private, Degree, Independent College} Shaoxing University Yuanpei College^{Private, Degree, Independent College} Jiyang College of Zhejiang Agriculture and Forestry University ^{Private, Degree, Independent College} Zhejiang Agricultural Business College^Vocational Zhejiang Industry Polytechnic College^Vocational Zhejiang Post and Telecommunication College^Vocational Shaoxing Vocational and Technical College^{Private, Vocational}
Jinhua	Zhejiang Normal University^Degree Zhejiang Guangsha Vocational and Technical University of Construction^{Private, Professional, Degree} Zhejiang Normal University Xingzhi College^{Private, Degree, Independent College} Shanghai University of Finance and Economics Zhejiang College^{Private, Degree, Independent College} China Jiliang University College of Modern Science and Technology^{Private, Degree, Independent College} Jinhua Polytechnic^Vocational Yiwu Industrial and Commercial College^Vocational Zhejiang Hengdian College of Film & Television^{Private, Vocational} Zhejiang Jinhua Technology and Trade Polytechnic^{Private, Vocational} Jinhua Education College^Continuing
Quzhou	Quzhou University^Degree Quzhou Vocational and Technical College^Vocational
Zhoushan	Zhejiang University (Zhoushan Campus)^{DBC 985 211 Key P+M Degree} Zhejiang Ocean University^{P+M Degree} Zhejiang International Maritime College^Vocational Zhoushan Tourism and Health College^Vocational
Taizhou	Taizhou University^Degree Taizhou Vocational and Technical College^Vocational Taizhou Vocational College of Science and Technology^Vocational Zhejiang Automotive Vocational and Technical College^{Private, Vocational}
Lishui	Lishui University^Degree Lishui Vocational Technical College^Vocational
Unless otherwise stated, all the universities and colleges listed are provincial or municipal public universities and colleges. DBC : Double First-Class Construction; 985 : Project 985; 211 : Project 211; Key : National Key Universities; P+M : provincial and ministerial co-founded universities. ^Degree: institutions offering degree education; ^Professional: institutions offering professional training and certificates. ^Vocational: institutions offering vocational training and diploma. ^Private: privately founded. ^Foreign: Sino-foreign cooperative joint universities; ^Independent: Independent college affiliated to a university; ^Continuing: Continuing education institutions; ^Private: Privately founded As of April 2018, there were 108 higher education institutions in Zhejiang, among which 36 were private, and 9 Continuing education institutions.