Representatives from OSU and Wuyi University met in the Business Building on April 22 to discuss a collaboration agreement between the two schools. Front (L to R): Wuyi professor Dr. Chunyang Wang, OSU Global Dean Randy Kluver, OSU HTM department head Dr. Brij Thapa. Back (L to R): Wuyi Vice Dean Cherie Chen, OSU CAGLE director Caitlin Kelley, Wuyi Chancellor Dr. Tiangang Luan, OSU HTM associate professor Dr. Willie Tao.

Spears Business, Wuyi University sign collaboration agreement to benefit students

Tuesday, April 22, 2025

Media Contact: Stephen Howard | Director of Marketing & Communications | 405.744.4363 | stephen.howard@okstate.edu

Oklahoma State University’s School of Hospitality and Tourism Management has entered into a memorandum of understanding with Wuyi University’s School of International Education and School of Economics and Management to explore international collaboration that would benefit the students of both universities.

“OSU and the Spears School of Business have a long history of global partnerships, and we look forward to this collaboration with Wuyi University,” said Dr. Jim Payne, dean of Spears Business.

The partnership between OSU and Wuyi University could expand to include instruction, research, outreach and even exchange programs involving students and faculty.

Wuyi University is located in Jiangmen, China, and offers 78 undergraduate programs for its 22,000 students at the graduate and undergraduate levels.

“This collaboration is based on a collective commitment to identify common interests and develop a mutually beneficial partnership between the two schools,” said Dr. Brij Thapa, head of the OSU School of Hospitality and Tourism Management and the Carl and Marilynn Thoma Distinguished Chair. “We look forward to expanding our engagements in China based on a framework for potential collaboration in student exchange, joint academic degree programs and research.”

Founded in 1937, the OSU School of Hospitality and Tourism Management in the Spears School of Business has evolved into a business-focused academic program that educates students and conducts research for the food and beverage, lodging, event planning, and tourism management industries. According to ShanghaiRanking.com, the program currently ranks OSU No. 8 in the U.S. and No. 22 in the world among hospitality and tourism management programs.