"Alberta International School of Recreation, Sport and Tourism of Beijing Sport University" (北京体育大学阿尔伯塔国际休闲体育与旅游学院) was established in June 2022. It is a Sino-foreign cooperative educational institution jointly established by Beijing Sport University and University of Alberta in Canada, approved by the Ministry of Education (Approval Certificate No.: MOE46CAA02DNR20222303N). It is the first cooperative educational institution in China in the field of sports that is a non-independent legal entity. The school is affiliated with Beijing Sport University and is located in the LingShui Li'an International Education Innovation Pilot Zone in Hainan Province.

Supporting Hainan's gradual exploration and steady promotion of the construction of the Chinese Free Trade Port is a major reform and opening-up initiative personally planned, deployed, and promoted by General Secretary Xi Jinping. It is a strategic decision made by the Central Committee of the Communist Party of China with a focus on both domestic and international situations. The establishment of Alberta International School of Recreation, Sport and Tourism at Beijing Sport University is our university's response to the national strategic needs and serves as an important historical mission in supporting the construction of the Hainan Free Trade Port. It represents our university's commitment to adhering to a global perspective, international standards, Chinese characteristics, and high-level positioning in education. It is another vivid practice of strengthening international cooperation and exchanges, gathering high-quality educational resources, and promoting the internationalization of education. It stands for the achievement of a significant milestone.

LingShui Li'an International Education Innovation Pilot Zone Rendering

University of Alberta, founded in 1908, established an inter-institutional cooperation relationship with our university in 2010. It is a world-renowned research-intensive university and one of the largest research-intensive universities in Canada. In the 2022-2023 World University Rankings (CWUR), it was ranked 77th globally and 4th in Canada. The sports discipline covering leisure, sport, and tourism programs has consistently ranked among the top ten in the world.

Alberta International School of Recreation, Sport and Tourism at Beijing Sport University is an important platform for the integration of higher education, international talent development, research cooperation, and cultural exchanges between the two universities. The college will closely focus on the development of sports and education integration, sports and tourism integration, as well as the requirements of the Hainan Free Trade Port and international education innovation zone construction. Relying on Beijing Sport University's first-class discipline in sports science and the advantages of the national-level first-class professional construction site in leisure sports and tourism management, the college will comprehensively introduce high-quality education, research, and practical resources from University of Alberta in sports, community sports, and tourism management. It aims to construct an international talent development model that integrates Chinese and foreign elements and sports and tourism, and to create a world-leading, composite, and innovative "leisure sports + tourism management + internationalization" high-end talent training base. The college strives to build a platform for academic exchanges and cooperation in sports and tourism that is characterized by Chinese characteristics and world-class standards.

Aerial View Rendering of the Beijing Sport University Exclusive Area in LingShui Li'an International Education Innovation Pilot Zone

Main Building Rendering of Alberta International School of Recreation, Sport and Tourism of Beijing Sport University

Physical Fitness Training Center Rendering of the Exclusive Area for Beijing Sport University

Basketball Center Rendering of the Exclusive Area for Beijing Sport University

The college will offer two undergraduate majors: Recreation Sport, and Tourism Management. Additionally, there will be three master's research fields and specializations: Sport Humanities and Social Sciences - Sport Tourism Management Research, Sport Education and Training Science - Leisure Sports Research, and Professional Master's Program in Sports - Social Sports Guidance. The total enrollment capacity is 900 students, all of whom will be included in the national enrollment plan for regular higher education institutions and the national enrollment plan for master's degree programs. Upon completion of the prescribed curriculum and meeting the graduation and degree requirements, students will receive graduation certificates and degree certificates from Beijing Sport University, as well as a degree certificate from University of Alberta.

The college offers a curriculum system that caters to the developmental needs of students and aligns with national strategies, local development, and industry demands. Innovative teaching methods that combine experiential learning with theoretical instruction are employed. A dual mentor system is established, with Chinese mentors collaborating with Canadian mentors, to enhance students' ability to apply knowledge, engage in lifelong learning, and develop broad interdisciplinary and international perspectives. Through this approach, students can enjoy world-class educational resources without leaving Hainan, truly realizing the vision of "studying in Hainan = studying abroad."

At the same time, the college will connect educational resources in the LingShui Li'an International Education Innovation Pilot Zone, Beijing campus, and University of Alberta in Canada. This will assist students in utilizing and benefiting from the educational resources such as courses, library resources, and databases in the pilot zone, the Beijing campus, and University of Alberta. Furthermore, it will provide opportunities for students to study, exchange, and engage in internships and practical experiences at the Beijing campus and University of Alberta in Canada.

Alberta International School of Recreation, Sport and Tourism of Beijing Sport University will gather top international faculty, cultivate first-class sports talents, and produce innovative achievements. It aims to make new contributions to serving the construction of a strong sports nation, an educationally strong nation, and a healthy China. It also aims to serve the Belt and Road Initiative, as well as the comprehensive construction of the Hainan Free Trade Port and the international education innovation zone.