The Ministry of Education (MoE)of China has formally approved the establishment of the "Beijing Normal University-Hong Kong Baptist University United International College (UIC)," according to information from the universities on Friday.

Hong Kong Baptist University (HKBU) and Beijing Normal University (BNU) signed an agreement in March 2004 to establish UIC, the first large-scale collaborative project of its kind between the mainland and the Hong Kong higher education sector. Formal approval by the Ministry was given in early April, 2005.

With an area of 136,000 square meters, UIC is located at Zhuhai on the mainland. UIC will set up three academic divisions, namely Humanities and Social Sciences, Business Management, and Science and Technology.

UIC will offer five undergraduate programs in Environmental Science, Computer Science and Technology, Statistics and Operations Research, Finance and Applied Economics starting this September. Graduates will be awarded the HKBU degree.