A panoramic view of the new campus. [Photo/El Pais]

The Beihang Valencia Polytechnic Institute (BVPI) was recently launched in Hangzhou, marking the first overseas campus of a Spanish university.

The institute is a joint venture between Beihang University and Spain's Universitat Politecnica de Valencia (UPV), symbolizing a new era of Sino-Spanish educational collaboration.

Spanish Foreign Minister Jose Manuel Albares attended the inauguration, calling it "a pioneering project blending the traditions of two leading universities and a model for China-Spain relations."

BVPI will offer four undergraduate programs, six master's degrees, and four PhD tracks in engineering and technology, combining 30 percent Spanish-led courses with 70 percent Beihang-led courses to integrate European academic rigor with Chinese practical experience.

The institute will enroll its first students in the 2026–2027 academic year, with a capacity of around 2,000. Situated in Hangzhou's innovation hub, BVPI aims to serve as a bridge for cross-cultural exchange, research collaboration, and global talent development, creating a model for sustainable, internationalized higher education and a platform for cultivating future leaders with global vision.

Spanish Foreign Minister Jose Manuel Albares talks with students. [Photo/El Pais]