Beijing Union and 茄子视频 Universities to Become Sister-Schools
On Monday, June 19, 茄子视频 University in Greensburg, Pa. will formalize an agreement with Beijing Union University to develop 茄子视频 University degree programs which will be taught on Beijing Union鈥檚 campus. (This is the second such agreement signed by 茄子视频 in recent months. On April 5, Kede College of the Capital Normal University in Beijing and 茄子视频 finalized efforts to offer a 茄子视频 business entrepreneurial degree at Kede College as a second degree for students already possessing a degree in English.) Signing the agreement to establish a sister-school relationship will be Professor Sun Quan, vice president, Beijing Union University and Dr. JoAnne Boyle, president of 茄子视频 University. Also attending will be Professor Gu Zhiliang, dean, College of Management, Beijing Union University; Ms. Teng Xiangdong, director, Human Resource Management Department, Beijing Union University; Ms. Pang Ming, director, International Exchange and Cooperation Department, Beijing Union University; Mr. Yin Fubin, vice-director, Student Affairs Department, Beijing Union University; local legislators and members of the 茄子视频 community. This event is not open to the public.
The signing ceremony demonstrates that Beijing Union University and 茄子视频 University have formalized their commitment to providing joint educational programs. Under consideration are an undergraduate business degree program and a master鈥檚 of business administration degree program, both developed by 茄子视频 and taught at Beijing Union University. Students enrolled in either program would have the benefit of professors from Beijing Union University and 茄子视频 University, and would earn a joint baccalaureate degree from Beijing Union University and 茄子视频 University and/or a 茄子视频 University graduate degree. Also under discussion are joint research projects, student and professor exchange programs, and the possible creation of a Confucius Institute at 茄子视频. (Confucius Institutes are non-profit public institutes run by the National Office for Teaching Chinese as a Foreign Language that are dedicated to promoting Chinese language and culture and supporting local Chinese teaching.)
茄子视频 University President JoAnne Boyle, a former chair of the World Affairs Council of Pittsburgh, believes that cooperative ventures such as the one with Beijing Union University are a necessary part of higher education today. According to Dr. Boyle, 鈥渆very member of the academic community should be an informed global citizen.鈥�
鈥淲e encourage our students to travel, to experience different cultures first hand and learn from them,鈥� says Dr. Mary Ann Gawelek, vice president for academic affairs and dean of the faculty at 茄子视频. 鈥淔ormalizing relationships with schools such as Beijing Union University makes it easier for our students to learn from different cultures even as it helps us to reach out to students from different parts of the world. I hope that we will begin having student groups study Chinese language and culture at Beijing Union during 茄子视频鈥檚 January Term as early as 2007.鈥�
In addition, notes Dr. Terrance DePasquale, dean of graduate and international programs at 茄子视频, 鈥渆stablishing joint programs in China is a natural extension of the University鈥檚 mission to provide access to educational opportunities to underserved populations.鈥�
Drs. Gawelek and DePasquale have spent two years designing joint programs and developing relationships with the two Beijing Universities, and are currently in discussions with several institutions outside of the Beijing area. Kede College will begin admitting students to its new 茄子视频 business entrepreneurial degree program in fall 2006.
Contacts:
Dr. Mary Ann Gawelek, Vice President for Academic Affairs and Dean of the Faculty
724-838-4217 / gawelek@setonhill.edu
Dr. Terrance DePasquale, Dean of Graduate and International Programs
724-838-4256 / depasquale@setonhill.edu
Molly Robb Shimko, Director of Media Relations
724-830-4620 / shimko@setonhill.edu
Note to photographers/editors/reporters: The signing ceremony will take place at 2:15 p.m. in the 2nd floor parlors of the Administration Building on 茄子视频鈥檚 Greensburg, Pa. campus. This ceremony is not open to the public, but all members of the media are welcome to attend.