On March 10th, Dr Denis Simon, Vice Provost for International Strategic Initiatives of Arizona State University came to Wuhan University to settle the details for such cooperative issues as the joint International Summer School, student exchanges and English teaching reform program for graduate students.
Executive President of Wuhan University Feng Youmei and Dr Denis held a very productive meeting on the implementation of relevant cooperative programs. Feng added that Wuhan University is very much interested in ASU’s experience of high technology application in education to advance the teaching methods and improve the students’ learning experience.
Later that morning, Dr Simon joined the discussion with School of International Education about the upcoming joint International Summer School (ISS) scheduled for this summer. The intended plan is to admit 20% Chinese students and 80% foreign students, mainly targeting the later, especially the ones that show genuine interest in China and are keen to come to China. The students will be tutored by professors from both universities, immersing in a profound academic environment and be exposed to real-life situations in China. Dr Simon suggested t some improvements could be made regarding the pamphlet design and the curriculum setting, adding that foreign students would want to know more about modern China, such as economy, investment and trade, society, energy, environment and health care, etc. In addition, two sides also explored the possibility of a more specialized joint education program featuring the model of “co-teaching, collective learning”, an initiative aimed at strengthening both academic ties and personal friendship between students and professors from both sides.
In the afternoon, Dr.Simon and Graduate School carried out a very informative and fruitful discussion on launching a course on International Academic English. In order to improve the academic and professional capability of graduate students at WHU, Graduate School intends to invite professors from ASU to instruct the course of International Academic English. The two parties held a negotiation on such detailed issues as credits and periods, materials for the course and teaching methods, which finally led to a plan that suited both parties. The lectures are scheduled to be delivered by 4 ASU professors in May this year and will cover English academic writing, speaking, reading, research and presentation, which is of great value to improving the international academic competence of young scholars at Wuhan University.
Arizona State University distinguishes itself as a famous research university in the world, ranking 3rd among all the state universities in the U.S., and the recent years have witnessed deepened cooperation between WHU and ASU in joint education programs and academic exchanges. As a world-renowned expert on China, Dr Simon also won the China National Friendship Award, registered as a select member of China’s State Administration of Foreign Experts Affairs.
(Edited by Diana & Sijia Hu)
