Wenzhou-Kean University

Wenzhou-Kean University
温州肯恩大学 (Chinese)
TypePrivate university
Established2014; 10 years ago (2014)
Location, ,
China
Websitewku.edu.cn
Chinese name
Simplified Chinese温州肯恩大学
Traditional Chinese溫州肯恩大學

Wenzhou-Kean University (温州肯恩大学) is a private university in Wenzhou, Zhejiang, China. It is a joint venture between Wenzhou University in China and Kean University in 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 lower-ranked 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]

In July 2019, a notable management shift at a Wenzhou campus resulted in the uncovering of significant policy breaches[4]. These included faculty and top management's involvement in sexual misconduct, physical aggression towards students, and clear disregard for research ethics, particularly in the Institutional Review Board (IRB) procedures. Further issues emerged concerning discriminatory practices in faculty hiring and student recruitment processes. A significant departure from established English-language teaching methods was also observed.

The suspension of expatriate American professors and international professors who raised these concerns casts a shadow on the university's commitment to transparency and ethical administration. Those whistleblowers encountered what appeared to be retaliatory actions, which motivated them to uphold academic integrity. This incident has ignited critical discussions about academic freedom and the safeguarding of individuals who expose misconduct within educational institutions. The situation underscores the challenges of maintaining ethical standards in academia and the importance of protecting those who speak out against malpractice in China.

See also

References

  1. ^ a b "学校概况". Wenzhou-Kean University (in Simplified Chinese). Archived from the original on 2022-12-06. Retrieved 2022-12-06.
  2. ^ "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.
  3. ^ Koblin, John (2006-05-14). "A Far-Eastern Campus for Kean". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved 2023-11-19.
  4. ^ 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 2024-01-24.

External links