LEHIGH VALLEY, Pa., Sept. 18 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Air Products , Shanghai Jiao Tong University (SJTU) and Drexel University today signed a landmark Joint Cooperation Agreement and launched an integrated "3-2 Program" that will offer outstanding Chinese students the opportunity to earn undergraduate and graduate degrees and a corporate work assignment.

The partnership is the first among a Chinese university, an American university and an international corporation. Students will complete concurrently three years of education at SJTU and a further two years at Drexel, including a six-month internship assignment with Air Products. Upon completion of the program, students will receive a bachelor's degree in their engineering major from SJTU and a master's degree in global engineering from Drexel. The first two students to participate in the program started their education at Drexel this fall.

"We are extremely pleased to be a part of such an innovative and groundbreaking program," said Wilbur Mok, president of Air Products Asia. "For a program to groom individuals with a well-rounded, international education and at the same time serve as a talent pipeline for Air Products in China is truly remarkable. We are also excited by the opportunity to attract and retain the best and brightest people to grow with our business."

"We look forward to a long and prosperous relationship with Drexel University and Air Products," said Professor Ye Quyuan, Executive Vice President at SJTU. "It's wonderful to be able to offer this educational and employment opportunity to these bright and driven students."

Sponsorship costs for the program, including transportation, room, board and tuition, will be covered by Air Products and Drexel University. Students accepted into the program will enroll in an agreed-upon course of study at Drexel. The initial focus of the program will be in engineering disciplines.

"Finding and educating the best and the brightest is truly an amazing component of this program," said Dr. Selcuk Guceri, Dean at Drexel University. "We're honored to be a part of such a pioneering program with SJTU and Air Products. It's a novel approach to recruiting and building international talent in an increasingly competitive recruiting environment. The program most likely will serve as a model for establishing similar programs in other rapidly growing regions of the world, including Asia, Eastern Europe and the Middle East."

Drexel University's Provost, Stephen W. Director, added that, "Drexel University is pleased to be able to join with two world class organizations to form this unique partnership to help provide a global educational experience for the students of Shanghai Jiao Tong University and Drexel. We hope it will become a model for similar programs sponsored by other multinational corporations."

About Air Products

Air Products serves customers in industrial, energy, technology and healthcare markets worldwide with a unique portfolio of atmospheric gases, process and specialty gases, performance materials, and equipment and services. Founded in 1940, Air Products has built leading positions in key growth markets such as semiconductor materials, refinery hydrogen, home healthcare services, natural gas liquefaction, and advanced coatings and adhesives. The company is recognized for its innovative culture, operational excellence and commitment to safety and the environment. Air Products has annual revenues of $9 billion, operations in over 40 countries, and over 20,000 employees around the globe. For more information, visit http://www.airproducts.com.

About Shanghai Jiao Tong University

Shanghai Jiao Tong University (SJTU) was founded in 1896. The University, through its century-long history, has nurtured large numbers of outstanding figures and made significant contributions to the thriving and prosperity of China and the development of science and technology. Of all the academicians of China's Academy of Sciences and Academy of Engineering, more than 200 are the alumni of Jiao Tong University. For more information, visit http://www.sjtu.edu.cn/english.

About Drexel University

Drexel University is a private, nonsectarian, coeducational university founded in 1891 by financier and philanthropist Anthony J. Drexel. Drexel offers a variety of educational and employment opportunities to students through study and internship programs in Europe, Asia and Latin America, and the co-operative education ("co-op") program. The only mandatory co-op in Pennsylvania and one of three in the United States, Drexel's program is among the nation's oldest, largest and most respected. The Steinbright Career Development Center (SCDC) is one of the most highly ranked co-op and career service organizations at any university in the country and works to ensure that students and alumni get the most from their experiential and career placement activities. For more information, visit http://www.drexel.edu.

***NOTE: This release may contain forward-looking statements. Actual results could vary materially, due to changes in current expectations.

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