STEM
U Washington, Tsinghua U Create Global Innovation Exchange
The University of Washington (UW) and Tsinghua University in China have
partnered to create the Global Innovation
Exchange (GIX), a new educational institution in Bellevue, WA focused on
technology and design.
The GIX's first degree program will be a 15-month Master of Science in
Technology Innovation featuring a multidisciplinary, project-based curriculum.
While the program is still pending approval from the UW Graduate School, the
GIX plans to open the program in the fall of 2016 with an initial cohort of 30
to 35 students. The GIX hopes to add more degree and certificate programs in
other fields of study over the next decade and enroll more than 3,000 students
by the year 2025.
Microsoft provided the GIX with $40 million in foundational support. Over
time, the GIX hopes to add other universities, companies and nonprofit research
organizations as partners. According to information from the University of
Washington, the GIX will be a place for students, faculty, professionals and
entrepreneurs to collaborate on real-world technology and design projects. By
partnering with Tsinghua University, the GIX hopes to strengthen education and
business relationships with China.
The GIX will be located in a new facility in proximity to multiple
technology corridors in the greater Seattle area and "will feature computing
and design labs, a prototyping facility, and collaboration and presentation
spaces," according to a statement from the University of Washington.
Further information about the Global Innovation Exchange can be found on the
University of Washington's site.
About the Author
Leila Meyer is a technology writer based in British Columbia. She can be reached at [email protected].
