The Hainan University-Arizona State University Joint International Tourism College was established in 2017 through an important collaboration with China’s Ministry of Education to meet the growing need for parks, recreation, tourism and public administration professionals. This global initiative prepares students to leverage knowledge across economic, social, cultural and environmental aspects of community development and management.
HAITC, located in Haikou City, offers three undergraduate dual-degree programs: tourism development and management, parks and recreation management, and public service and public policy. These programs are delivered through ASU’s School of Community Resources and Development and the School of Public Affairs, respectively, and align with corresponding degrees at Hainan University.
ASU also collaborates with HAITC to offer two master’s degree programs, the Master of Public Administration degree and the Master of Tourism Management degree. Twenty ASU faculty members teach the MPA and MTM programs and provide English-language instruction to more than 1,200 undergraduate dual-degree students at HAITC. Under the leadership of Professor Kelly S. Bricker, director of HAITC and the ASU-HNU partnership, the program has demonstrated exceptional success, with the 2018 cohort achieving a 91% graduation rate within four years.