Southern Illinois University Edwardsville (SIUE) will partner with Hong Kong University's (HKU) SPACE Community College to collaborate on 2+2 programs in business.

The agreement is the first international 2+2 partnership for SIUE's School of Business (SOB).

"The new articulation agreement with Hong Kong University signifies our commitment to the internationalization initiative," Parviz Ansari, provost and vice chancellor for Academic Affairs, said in a statement. "This allows for the development of joint degree programs in different fields over time and to create opportunities for HKU students to pursue SIUE undergraduate degrees.

Students who graduate from HKU SPACE Community College with an associate's degree in business can transfer to SIUE to complete years three and four of study with a degree in a business field such as business administration, accountancy, computer management and information systems, economics or finance.

The degrees awarded will reflect the partnership between HKU and SIUE. The first students are expected to arrive at SIUE in fall 2016.

"The School of Business has a long-standing commitment of providing business students with access to international opportunities that increase cultural knowledge and prepare students for workplace interactions with colleagues around the world," said Janice Joplin, PhD, associate dean for academic affairs in the School. "This new 2+2 agreement with HKU SPACE will bring an additional and important cultural perspective to our SIUE classrooms."

SIUE's School of Business and the accountancy programs are accredited by the Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business International.

 The Princeton Review lists SIUE as one of the top 296 business schools in the U.S. for the ninth-consecutive year. Undergraduate and graduate degrees are offered in accounting, computer management and information systems, economics, finance, management and marketing.