U of A First Canadian Partner to Sign Maple Leaf Education Systems Agreement with China

The University of Alberta and Maple Leaf Education Systems (MLES), China’s largest private education provider, signed an agreement that will enable the university to support transnational education, student mobility and student success.

As the sole Canadian partner for this 1+3 model, students will complete 24 credits online on the MLES campus in Shenzhen, China, during their first year. Following the successful completion of the first year, they will study on-campus at the U of A for the following three years of their degree. The program will accept the inaugural class in Fall 2025 and grow to 100 students by the third year. 

University of Alberta leadership, including Melissa Padfield, Deputy Provost, Students and Enrolment, Cen Huang, Vice-Provost and Associate Vice-President (International) and Jessica Butts Scott, Associate Vice-President, Online & Continuing Education, attended the launch in China on October 22, 2024. Joining them were Sherman Jen, CEO and President of MLES, who spoke to his long-standing relationship with the U of A and his role in China as a key leader in building education innovation, and Mr. Bez Babakhani, Consul General of Canada in Guangzhou, who affirmed his support and commitment to the program's success.

This partnership marks a significant step forward in the U of A's internationalization efforts,  building on our strengths to foster exceptional education. In alignment with Shape: A Strategic Plan of Impact, the initiative will combine international partnerships, student engagement and online learning to deliver innovative, flexible learning experiences that prepare our students as global citizens.

Since 1995, MLES has grown from one international school to China’s largest private education provider. The Maple Leaf Model provides a Western academic orientation and preparation for admission to Western universities, blended with the richness of Chinese educational traditions and culture. They have worked with the U of A for the past two decades, and over 1,000 graduates of MLES have studied at the U of A.