A new institute has officially opened in China, established with the participation of the Polytechnic University of Valencia. This marks the first time a Spanish higher education institution has launched a full academic program outside the country. The inauguration ceremony took place at Beihang University, recognized as one of China’s leading technical universities.
The center is expected to welcome its first students in the 2026-2027 academic year and can accommodate up to two thousand students at once. The curriculum includes four undergraduate degrees, six master’s courses, and four doctoral programs, all focused on engineering and technology. Teaching duties will be divided between Spanish and Chinese staff: one third of classes will be led by the team from Valencia, with the remainder taught by Beihang specialists. Profits from the campus will be split equally.
A distinctive feature of the project is that it requires no public funding—the universities expect it to be fully self-sustaining from the first year of operation. The annual net profit for the university in Valencia is expected to be around two million euros. These funds are to be allocated for scholarships for Spanish students, aiming to improve access to education and encourage exchange between the countries.
The institute’s opening took place in Hangzhou, often referred to as China’s Silicon Valley. Major companies like Alibaba and TikTok are based here. The new campus, named Beihang Valencia Instituto Politécnico (BVPI), is already being called a major milestone for the Spanish education system. The project is seen as a step towards strengthening Spain’s presence in the Asian education market and expanding international cooperation.
The ceremony was attended by leaders of both universities as well as representatives of the Valencian government. They noted that this collaboration will serve as a model for other universities and help forge strong ties between the scientific communities of both countries. Regional authorities expressed support for the initiative, emphasizing that such projects promote scientific and innovative development and strengthen international relations.
The opening of BVPI coincided with the 20th anniversary of the strategic partnership between China and Spain. The visit of the Spanish delegation to China concluded with a series of meetings aimed at further developing bilateral ties. The new campus is already being called a symbol of successful dialogue and mutual trust between the two countries.
