Release
Chinese Higher Education Delegation Studies at University at Albany
Contact: Catherine Herman (518) 437-4980
ALBANY, N.Y. (June 13, 2006) -- A delegation of 29 leaders of colleges and universities from Jiangsu Province in China had a glimpse today of the American Higher Education system through a series of workshops with administrators and faculty of the University at Albany. The day-long program included seminars on operations, academic administration, research, student success and athletics. The visit also offered an opportunity for UAlbany administrators to interact with and learn from key leaders of higher education in China.
The delegates, including presidents of such diverse institutions as Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing University of Finance and Economics, Jiangsu Police Institute, Jiangsu University of Science and Technology, and Nantong University, was led by President Wen Xiaoming of the Nanjing Arts Institute.
"We are delighted to welcome our distinguished colleagues from Jiangsu Province," said Kermit L. Hall, president of the University. "There is much we can offer one another, and I hope our conversations today and tomorrow signal the beginning of many new partnerships. We are honored that our colleagues have chosen the University at Albany as a place to gain perspective on education in the United States."
The delegation of visitors participated in group sessions on structure and management of a large academic enterprise with UAlbany Provost Susan Herbst. The University also presented discussions on the State University of New York system, featuring SUNY Chancellor John R. Ryan, an overview of individual institutions with Thomas Haas, president of SUNY Cobleskill, as well as seminars on student success, enrollment, athletics, university operations, fund raising and external relations, and research, including nanosciences, given by University at Albany administrators.
University at Albany President Kermit L. Hall has focused on China in his endeavors to internationalize the University at Albany as a higher education institution. On May 11, Hall signed a comprehensive agreement with President Lizhong Yu from East China Normal University (ECNU) to expand research collaborations, joint degree and curricular programs, and provide regular student and faculty exchanges.
The University has also entered collaborations with Fudan University, Sichuan University, and Nanjing University in Jiangsu Province. Party Secretary Li Yuanchao of Jiangsu Province visited UAlbany's College of Nanoscale Science and Engineering on May 21 and gave the keynote address at the School of Business commencement ceremony. Prior to speaking at commencement, Party Secretary Li signed a memorandum of understanding with the State University of New York system. The University will host 150 students from China in the summer of 2006.
UAlbany is developing research collaborations with Chinese universities in nanoscale science and technology, atmospheric sciences, East Asian studies, life sciences, urban studies, education, social welfare and public policy, computing and information science, and information science-related business disciplines among others. UAlbany's Atmospheric Sciences Research Center has reached a research agreement with Wuhan University, through the effort of ASRC director and Ray Falconer Endowed Chair in atmospheric sciences Kenneth L. Demerjian.
The University also conducts exchange programs with colleges in Brazil, Costa Rica, Cyprus, Dominican Republic, France, Ghana, Israel, Japan, Russia, Thailand, Tanzania and the United Arab Emirates. Blanca M. Ramos, education core director of the Center for the Elimination of Minority Health Disparities at UAlbany and associate professor of the School of Social Welfare has initiated exchange programs for study, research, and teaching with several universities in Peru beginning in 2002, including the Universidad Santo Toribio de Mogrovejo in Chiclayo, and the Pontificia Universidad Católica del Perú in Lima. In 2006, Hall signed cooperative agreements with the Universidad de Piura and the Universidad Nacional de Piura, the two largest universities in the northern city of Piura, Peru.
