Welcome

Many of the most significant challenges facing the world today are global in nature. Duke’s ambition to be a university of and for the world leads it to pursue activities that expand its global reach and address these universal challenges. Further, Duke recognizes that the greatest impact often occurs when universities move beyond being merely globally active to embracing deeply embedded global engagement.

It was in that spirit that Duke launched Duke Kunshan University (DKU) – a joint venture university in China. As one of the world’s most rapidly growing economies, China presents a unique opportunity for educational programs and research partnerships and that can benefit both Duke and the broader global community.

The DKU partnership grows Duke’s position as an international leader in education and research. DKU’s graduate programs build on Duke’s signature strengths, while the undergraduate program creates a model of education founded in the liberal arts tradition and uniquely adapted for a 21^st century global campus. DKU research centers and institutes provide further opportunities for Duke and DKU faculty to collaborate and to grow the knowledge economy of Jiangsu province and the Yangtze River Delta region.

Formed through a partnership between Duke University and Wuhan University, and with investment from the city of Kunshan, DKU creates access to a Duke education that is well-suited to the academic, cultural, and professional needs of Chinese and international students, while supporting the scholarly interests of the Duke community in China. DKU provides Duke students opportunities to add high-quality international dimensions to their education, and increases Duke’s footprint in the region in a deeply immersive way. DKU also serves as a test bed for new pedagogical approaches to education that provide value to the Duke campus.