Richmond Validates Three Undergraduate Programmes with GCAST, Strengthening UK–China Partnership

Richmond American University London has successfully validated three undergraduate programmes delivered by Guangzhou College of Applied Science and Technology (GCAST), a full-time undergraduate institution approved by China’s Ministry of Education. 

Established in 2000 and rebranded in 2020, GCAST is a private university located in the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area, offering modern facilities and strong links with industry. 

The collaboration between Richmond and GCAST began in Spring 2025, with Institutional Approval successfully completed in Summer 2025. Following a rigorous review process, including three events held in March 2026, Richmond has formally validated the following programmes: 

• GCAST BSc (Hons) Computer Science and Technology  

• GCAST BSc (Hons) Accounting  

• GCAST BA (Hons) Visual Communication Design  

The validation panels commended the programmes for their strong academic and pastoral support, clear alignment with industry needs and local context, and the innovative integration of Artificial Intelligence and emerging technologies. They also highlighted the quality of assessment design, the expertise and commitment of academic staff, and the strength of the Richmond-GCAST partnership in enabling meaningful UK-China collaboration. 

“We are delighted to be partnering with GCAST and to have recently completed successful validation events for three undergraduate degree programmes,” said Kelly Coate, Provost and Deputy Vice Chancellor (Academic) at Richmond, “We have learned so much already from our GCAST colleagues, and we look forward to working more closely with them as we grow and develop this partnership over the coming years.” 

This milestone marks a further step in a dynamic partnership, creating new opportunities for students to develop academic excellence, industry insight, and a global perspective across the fields of computing, business, and design.