Introduction

To serve the need for high caliber executives in the Chinese mainland for its rapid economic development, PolyU has been at the forefront of availing academic award programmes to different cities through collaboration with key universities since 1998. These programmes enable students to acquire and apply knowledge with an international perspective. Over the years, a number of teaching centres, or outposts, have been established in the mainland to provide venues and facilities for the students. They include: Hangzhou Centre set up in collaboration with Zhejiang University, Xi'an Centre with Jiaotong University and Shenzhen Centres.

By the end of 2007, PolyU has nourished over 3700 graduates in the mainland, mostly obtaining PolyU master degrees. Our mainland programme partners include: Zhejiang University, Xi'an Jiaotong University, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Peking University, Renmin University, Graduate University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Nankai University, Chongqing University, Xi'an Polytechnic University, etc.

In addition to coordinating the outposts, CMAO provides a platform for serving academic collaboration between PolyU departments and mainland higher education institutions through the established network.