The Sino-Finnish International College of Health at Shanghai University of Medicine and Health Sciences (SUMHS) was inaugurated in Shanghai's Pudong New Area on March 13.

The college will begin enrolling students this year, further expanding Shanghai's portfolio of undergraduate-level Sino-foreign cooperative programs in fields such as rehabilitation physical therapy, data science, and big data technology.

The institution is co-founded by SUMHS and Finland's Laurea University of Applied Sciences. SUMHS is known for its integrated approach spanning healthcare, engineering, elderly care, and medical insurance. In 2025, its rehabilitation physical therapy program received the highest level of international accreditation from World Physiotherapy. Laurea University of Applied Sciences, known for its strong focus on applied education, has also been recognized for excellence in quality by the Finnish Ministry of Education.

According to the president of SUMHS, the new college will have a total enrollment capacity of 640 students and will offer four-year undergraduate degree programs, with all studies conducted in China.

The college is committed to cultivating high-level applied talent in medicine and related health service fields with a strong international outlook. Eligible graduates will receive both an undergraduate diploma and a bachelor's degree certificate from SUMHS, along with either a Bachelor of Health Care or a Bachelor of Business Administration degree from Laurea University of Applied Sciences.

The initial programs include rehabilitation physical therapy and data science and big data technology, with enrollment commencing this year. Each program will admit 80 students, with admissions included in the national higher education institution enrollment plan.

The rehabilitation physical therapy program integrates the advantages of both Chinese and Finnish partners in rehabilitation medicine, physical therapy, and health promotion. It aims to establish a curriculum aligned with international standards while grounded in local practice, supporting chronic disease prevention and management, and advancing the development of the health industry.

The data science and big data technology program introduces Finnish expertise in digital service development, artificial intelligence, and university-industry collaborative innovation. It is designed to support the digital transformation and upgrading of the health industry and contribute to regional development in medical big data analysis, utilization, and data security.

Sources: Shanghai Observer, Pudong New Area government