IEN-START Institute of Minjiang University is an international institute of higher education cooperated between Minjiang University and IEN (International Education Network), and the only largest Sino-foreign higher educational institute in Fujian province. IEN-START uses a teaching mode connected with international education that provides courses which will enable students to further their studies and get bachelor degrees overseas. IEN-START trains the applied talents with proficiency in English, familiarity with international regulations and good professional knowledge for the development of Taiwan Straits West Coast Economic Zone.

The graduates of IEN-START Institute will receive the diploma from Minjiang University (diploma of the Chinese public university) and the TAFE (Technical and Further Education) diploma from NMIT (Northern Melbourne Institute of TAFE). They will be able to obtain the letter of offers from the foreign universities by applications and may then continue at public universities for another one or two years to earn a bachelor’s degree (be able to get national approval and enjoy preferential treatments after returning to China). IEN-START Institute is now the largest Sino-foreign institute in Fujian province with the highest success rate of student visa applications and the largest number of students who continue their studies overseas.

Minjiang University pays much importance on the international education and marks out about 12 hectares for construction of the new international campus of IEN-START Institute to upgrade the scale and level of teaching. The new campus not only meets the ideal of the campus of Minjiang University which is “green, ecological, and civilized campus”, but also highlights the style of the international campus. The campus’ main project will be brought into use in the fall of 2007.

International Education Network (IEN) is a consortium of Australian educational institutions with four national universities and one national vocational and technical institute. The consortium includes University of Tasmania, La Trobe University, Macquarie University, Flinders University and Northern Melbourne Institute of TAFE (NMIT). The former three have been named in the “Top 200 Universities in the World” in “The Times Higher Education Supplement” for their good reputation.

Introduction of Minjiang University:
Minjiang University is a comprehensive, multi-disciplinary undergraduate university credited by the Chinese Education Ministry. It is located at the beautiful littoral city Fuzhou which is the capital city of Fujian province. The size of main campus is over 166 hectares, the number of current students is over 17,000. The university has 16 departments with 51 bachelor degree courses and 38 vocational courses. Minjiang University also includes Adult Education College, Software Training Base, and IEN-Start Institute (co-operated with the Australian IEN-International Education Network Group) which is the largest Sino-foreign institute in Fujian province.

The university has an excellent teaching staff with over 1000 staff including 850 teachers, and 250 with advanced technical title. The university hires foreign teachers perennially from USA, Canada, Australia, Japan and so on, also invites more than ten of Academicians of Chinese Academy of Sciences as guest professors, such as Mathematician Lin Qun and Astrophysicist Chen Jiansheng, along with Professor Su-Kwang Sung who is the President of Korean’s Garment Academy.

The university pays importance on producing a rich-cultural environment and advocates the school spirit of “Commitment and Modesty”, the education spirit of “Reform, Creation and Perfection” and the study spirit of “Knowledge and Honesty”. The campus is very beautiful, with modern constructions and natural environment benefiting to a picturesque surroundings, featuring the modernization and local culture. The university also has Chenxin Square, Corridors of Fujian Local Arts, Fujian’s Academicians, Lacquer’s Art and Stone Inscriptures’ Art, which is an ideal place for teaching, research, and learning.