Eastern Michigan University In Partnership With Chinese School
YPSILANTI -- Eastern Michigan University's efforts to provide new opportunities and experiences for students and faculty in China are expanding with the signing of two new agreements with Zhejiang University of Media and Communications. The new agreements provide for exchange opportunities for students and faculty between the two institutions.
A signing ceremony to celebrate the new agreements will take place on Wednesday, Oct. 12 at 11 a.m. in 204 Welch Hall on Eastern Michigan's campus. Participants in the ceremony include a four-person delegation from ZUMC, led by Vice President Li Jun, as well as Eastern Michigan University President Susan Martin and College of Technology Dean Morell Boone.
ZUMC was founded 33 years ago and is one of the premier Chinese universities for broadcast journalism and media arts. The majority of ZUMC graduates work for radio and television stations, newspapers and magazines, advertising companies and as film producers. ZUMC has approximately 9,700 students. It is located in Hangzhou, a city of 8.7 million people in Eastern China.
"This is a wonderful opportunity for our students and faculty -- both those that will be participating in programs at ZUMC and those that will be interacting with Chinese students on Eastern's campus," said President Martin. "The new partnership also reflects our ongoing efforts to reach outside of the U.S. to develop new program opportunities that reflect the needs of our globalized workplace."
The agreements with ZUMC are the result of efforts led by Dean Boone, with support from Stephen Burwood, Director of International Programs, which started in 2010.
"We have developed a cordial and sound relationship with our friends at Zhejiang University of Media and Communications since we first met at EMU in June 2010," said Boone. "It is the natural progression of such a mutually beneficial relationship to have the privilege of Dr. Li being with us on campus for the official signing of two exchange agreements by him and President Martin."
Another positive outcome of the growing relationship with ZUMC is the upcoming performance of the 24-member ZUMC student music troupe at Eastern on Oct. 17.
Eastern has focused on expanding relationships with China in recent years. This has led to a five-fold increase in the number of students from China – from around 30 students in fall 2007 to more than 150 in fall 2011.
Additional partnerships in China include:
* Wuhan University -- In May 2011, a new joint research facility, funded by Wuhan University, was inaugurated. Faculty and students from Eastern and Wuhan will collaborate on projects as part of the "Joint International Center for Resource, Environmental Management and Digital Technology Between Wuhan University and Eastern Michigan University."
* Anshan University -- A cooperative arrangement is providing new opportunities in the TESOL (Teaching of English to Speakers of Other Languages) program in the Department of World Languages. The plan includes a proposal for approximately 90 Eastern graduate students to engage with Chinese students.
* Tianjin University – A graduation ceremony for the joint degree program Master's of Science in Human Resources and Organizational Development took place in June -- 23 Chinese students graduated.
