Lawrence Tech Signs Agreement With Shanghai Institute of Technology
Lawrence Technological University has signed a five-year cooperative agreement that will facilitate student and faculty exchanges with Shanghai Institute of Technology in China. The initial exchanges are expected to involve students and faculty in architecture.
The agreement was signed by SIT President Lu Guanzhong and President Lewis Walker, who visited SIT on a trip to China last year.
The two universities agreed to consider the exchange of faculty and scientific personnel to promote cooperation in research and teaching. The two institutions will consider student exchanges, as well as joint conferences, seminars and workshops. The feasibility of a joint academic program will be studied.
"This agreement should open up new educational opportunities for students at both of our universities," Walker said. "There are many academic fields where we can cooperate and share the knowledge of our professors."
Dean Glen LeRoy of the College of Architecture and Design said one possibility is a joint "3+2" architecture degree program. Chinese students would study for three years at SIT and two years at Lawrence Tech to earn a bachelor's degree from SIT and a master's degree from Lawrence Tech.
"I am deeply convinced that the collaboration in architecture with the module of '3+2' will lead us to more opportunities in more disciplines in the near future," President Lu of SIT said. "We have made determined efforts to further develop our cooperation programs with overseas tertiary institutions and the signing of the agreement between LTU and SIT is another successful example in our joint endeavors."
The College of Architecture and Design recently signed an agreement with North China University of Technology to consider a student exchange program and a joint master's degree in architecture.
Under President Walker's leadership, Lawrence Tech has expanded its international presence to include agreements with universities in more than 20 countries, including several in China. SIT has agreements with universities in many countries.
Also representing SIT at the signing ceremony were Professor Xu Qinqiang, dean of School of Science; Professor Xu Jiayue, dean of School of Material Science and Engineering; Professor Wu Fanhong, dean of School of Chemical & Environmental Engineering; Professor Zhu Shichang, director of Department of International Cooperations; and Wang Huatian, associate dean of School of Art Design.
Also representing Lawrence Tech at the signing ceremony were Provost Maria Vaz; Associate Dean Joseph Veryser and Assistant Dean Ralph Nelson of the College of Architecture and Design; Dean Nabil Grace and Associate Dean Lewis Frasch of the College of Engineering; and Associate Provost and Interim Dean Alan McCord of the College of Management.
Lawrence Technological University, www.ltu.edu, offers more than 100 undergraduate, master's and doctoral degree programs in the Colleges of Architecture and Design, Arts and Sciences, Engineering and Management. Founded in 1932, the 4,500-student, private university pioneered evening classes and today has a growing number of weekend and online programs. Lawrence Tech's 102-acre campus is in Southfield, and programs are also offered in Detroit, Lansing, Petoskey, Traverse City and Toronto. Lawrence Tech also partners with universities in Mexico, Europe, the Middle East and Asia.
