Published by: Office of International Relations, School of International Education 

Editor: Cheng Yu

WUST News - Recently, the Ministry of Education's Information Platform for the Regulation of Chinese-Foreign Cooperation in Running Schools released the list of accredited Chinese-foreign cooperative education institutions recognized by the Ministry of Education. Among them is the WUST-Madrid Complutense Institute, Wuhan University of Science and Technology, which was jointly established by Wuhan University of Science and Technology (WUST) and Complutense University of Madrid, (UCM).

This marks a significant breakthrough and a landmark achievement in the WUST's ongoing internationalization strategy. Not only does it fill a gap in Chinese-foreign cooperative educational institutions within the WUST, it also marks the first such collaboration between a provincial university in Hubei and a top-200 global university.

The WUST-Madrid Complutense Institute is the second overseas campus established by the UCM, following the Real Colegio Complutense at Harvard University in 1990. It serves as a crucial platform for high-level educational cooperation between the UCM and China.

The institute will open its doors to students in the same year that it is approved. Initially, it will offer undergraduate programs in Robotics Engineering, Information and Computing Science, and Statistics. The corresponding programs at the UCM are Data Engineering and Artificial Intelligence, Applied Data Science, and Applied Statistics. These programs are included in the national general higher education enrollment plan and adopt a "4+0" dual-degree model. Students who meet the admission requirements of both the WUST and UCM can register at both universities. Graduates who meet the requirements of both the WUST and UCM will receive diplomas and degrees from both universities.

Founded in 1499, UCM is one of the oldest universities in Europe. It currently ranks 164th in the 2025 QS World University Rankings, first in Spain and fourth in Southern Europe. Since the beginning of this century, it has produced seven Nobel laureates and over 50 Spanish political leaders, including a king and three prime ministers. The university comprises 26 faculties, 133 departments, 15 university clinics and hospitals, and 10 research support centers.

Since 2023, the Office of International Relations has spearheaded efforts with the School of Sciences, the School of Artificial Intelligence and Automation, and the School of International Education to apply for the establishment of a Chinese-foreign cooperative education institution, ultimately achieving success, under the leadership of the WUST's Party Committee and administration, and with strong support from relevant departments.

Looking ahead, the WUST-Madrid Complutense Institute will actively integrate high-quality educational and scientific resources from UCM. It aims to establish an internationally innovative institute characterized by distinct professional features, interdisciplinary integration, advanced training systems, and exemplary outcomes. The institute will focus on serving national strategic needs and local economic development, aligning closely with Hubei's modern industrial system. institute will prioritize the development of artificial intelligence and big data, with the aim of cultivating high-level interdisciplinary talent in the AI+ domain and contributing positively to the development of Hubei as a strong province in education and to the Chinese-Spanish educational cooperation. (Office of International Relations, School of International Education)