On September 28, 2020,College of New Energy and Environment, Jilin University and College of Arts and Sciences, the University of Kentucky, USA signed " Cooperative Graduate Education Agreement between Jilin University, China and University of Kentucky, USA" (hereinafter "Agreement")to start the "3 + 2" cooperative graduate education program.

Beginning with the two sides reached cooperation consensus in September 2018, the Agreement went through course mapping, content negotiation, legal review, and all details finalized in September 2019 and approved on executive meeting of Principal’s Office on July 2. The Agreement was signed by Jilin University on September 23 and the University of Kentucky on September28. The signing of Agreement marked the beginning of cooperative graduate education program between two universities with expected to launch program promotion, selection and enrollment in the fall semester of 2020.

The program is available for undergraduates majoring in Environmental Science, Groundwater Science and Engineering, Hydrology and Water Resources Engineering in College of New Energy and Environment. Application opens in the fall semester for junior students, which will nominated by College of New Energy and Environment and provided acceptance offer by University of Kentucky in the following spring semester. Qualified students can study at University of Kentucky (two-year master degree) for one year in place of their fourth year at Jilin University and using their transferred first year credits for getting the Certificate of Graduation and Bachelor’s Degree of Jilin University. Upon completing, students can continue their second year study and will be awarded Graduation Certificate by College of Arts and Sciences of University of Kentucky.

Located in Lexington, Kentucky and Founded in 1865, the University of Kentucky is a famous public research university in the United States. The University of Kentucky has 15 colleges and 1 medical center with about 200 majors. Pharmacology and Toxicology, Agricultural Science, Biology and Biochemistry, Clinical Medicine, Material Science, Microbiology, Chemistry, Neuroscience and Behavior, Plant Science and Animal Science, Psychiatry and Psychology, Social Science and Public Health, Geology from the University of Kentucky have top rankings in the world. In 2011, University of Kentucky and Jilin University signed a Cooperation Agreement and the two universities have established a strategic partnership.