The university maintains a philosophy of open education and has established exchange and cooperative relationships with more than 200 universities and institutions from 33 countries and regions all around the world. The university sends over 700 students overseas annually to study abroad and has established three Confucius Institutes, the Hong Kong University of Science and Technology (Guangzhou) (HKUST (GZ)) and the Alliance of Guangzhou International Sister-City Universities (GISU).