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Chinese delegation to meet with MCLA - December 05, 2007
Six Chinese delegates from the Shanghai Institute of Foreign Trade (SIFT) will meet this Sunday, Dec. 9, with officials from Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts (MCLA), including President Mary K. Grant, to discuss expansion of the educational exchange agreement between the two institutions.
According to MCLA business administration professor Ben Kahn, the purpose of the visit is to renew and expand the articulation agreement between MCLA and SIFT. This expansion will allow faculty, administrators and students from both institutions to visit one another, including the opportunity for MCLA students to study at SIFT and SIFT students to attend MCLA for a semester-long educational experience.
“No experience in the classroom can replace first-hand exposure to students, faculty and administrators from China – the most populous nation on our planet – as our students pursue an international education,” Kahn said. “And, while not all students will travel to China, we will bring China to their classroom as SIFT students visit MCLA.”
Earlier this year, visiting scholar Laura Yang, a professor in transport and logistics and the head of the logistics department in SIFT’s International Business School, spent a semester at MCLA. As part of her visit, Yang taught a class on contemporary economic issues in China and assisted MCLA in developing an international business concentration within the College’s department of business administration and economics. Since 1995, MCLA has served as the western Massachusetts host for SIFT delegates visiting the region. Over the years, visiting Chinese scholars have given lectures and provided seminars to the College campus community and the Berkshire County business community, providing insights into China’s educational, business and legal systems.
“This type of exchange has enhanced the quality of education on campus and brought an international awareness to our students,” Kahn said. “This exposure and understanding of China is priceless, as that country continues to become a significant global economic force.”
In 2004, Kahn spent a sabbatical semester at SIFT, teaching the Chinese business undergraduate and graduate students, and conducting economic research at the World Trade Organization Consultation Center on the “China’s entry into the World Trade Organization.” In 2005, six delegates from SIFT visited MCLA and the Sage Colleges of New York, to finalize an agreement between the two institutions.
Grant and 16 members of a delegation of the New England Board of Higher Education traveled to Asia in December 2005 and visited China in January 2006. There, Grant met with the president of SIFT at the World Trade Organization Consultation Center (WTO).
MCLA has continued to broaden its association with China. Since August 2006, MCLA history professor emeritus Daniel Connerton has taught English writing and American studies courses at SIFT, after being invited to do so by SIFT officials who visited the College. In yet another connection with a Chinese institution of higher education, recent MCLA graduates – Christopher Gauthier, Katelin Lorenz, Alexandra Woolner and Nathaniel Hussey, from the class of 2007 – are at the University of Hebei in Baoding, China.
They are teaching English to Chinese students this academic year through the Hebei University International Program. The SIFT delegation visiting this weekend includes Professor Xu Xiaowei, SIFT vice president academic affairs; Professor Nie Qing, dean of SIFT’s school of business; Professor Chen Jingying, dean of SIFT’s law school; Dr. Ling Jie, associate dean of SIFT’s school of finance; Professor Jin Daoming, associate dean of SIFT’s school of finance; and Professor Long Jiang, associate registrar at SIFT. In addition to meeting with Grant and Kahn, other MCLA officials at the meeting will include Denise Richardello, MCLA vice president of enrollment and external relations; Steve Green, MCLA vice president of academic affairs; and Monica Joslin, MCLA dean of academic affairs.
Following the meeting, the Chinese delegation will tour the MCLA campus. For more information, go to www.mcla.edu |
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