The MU Confucius Institute to boost academic ties

One of the leading universities in the world, the University of Missouri, is working hard to deepen ties with their counterparts in China, especially in aspects such as culture and language. China Daily reporter Zhang Yue interviewed Handy Williamson, vice-provost for International Programs at MU, and Wen Ouyang, director of the Confucius Institute at MU, to find out their thoughts on the university's achievements and future academic strategies.

What impressed you most in China?

Handy Williamson: I have had the good fortune to visit many universities, cities and sites in China in recent years.

I have been impressed by the strong universities, both large and small, due to their energetic embrace of internationalization and of American culture.

Both faculty and students at the Chinese universities have been overwhelmingly open and eager to share ideas, experiences and aspirations for higher education for themselves and their families.

The vast geography of China required a bigger mindset and reorientation.

There are many World Heritage Sites such as the Great Wall, Terracotta Warriors, Tiananmen Square and the Beijing Olympics site.

The Chinese transportation system, including airports, railways and cargo ports, is very impressive and is perhaps one of the more efficient in the world.

I was most deeply impressed by the Chinese people. They were more open and hospitable than I expected.

They are more informed about the United States than I expected. They are family-centric and very tightly connected. These are just some of the things that impressed me about China and the Chinese people.

We know MU has cooperated with China since the 1920s. Would you please give some examples and tell us the significance of collaborative programs with the nation in recent years?

Handy Williamson: We very much value our historical connection with China through our faculty and leadership of the School of Journalism.

The opportunities afforded for them to make significant contributions to Sino-American communication and understanding remain high on the list of our social-capital assets.

Dean Walter Williams and student Edgar Snow are the two names that come to mind on the historical stage.

In recent years we have intensified and broadened our collaborations with Chinese universities and government offices in the areas of faculty and student exchange, executive training, research and technological innovations.

Our College of Engineering entered into nearly 35 partnership agreements focused on developing and sustaining dual and joint degree programs.

These programs create smoother pathways through which students from Chinese universities can enter into programs at MU.

These programs also are built upon mutually respectful relationships that allow both parties to benefit from each other's cultures and education opportunities.

Other colleges at MU, such as agriculture, business, education and human and environmental sciences, have also built partnerships with Chinese university counterparts.

Our Asian Affairs Center has a long history of providing continuing education for scholars, faculty and executives from across China.

Among all of the MU-China cooperations, the partnership between the MU Confucius Institute and Shanghai Normal University is a very successful example. What benefits has it brought to both universities and to both China and the US?

Handy Williamson: The institute is involved in State-level discussions of international education in middle and high schools.

It also was invited by the Missouri governor to join with business leaders from Missouri on a trade mission to china.

Many teachers from China have been posted to the institute and they have had opportunities to become familiar with American schools and their communities.

These professionals have strengthened our relationship and have served as good ambassadors for China.

Teachers and students have been able to participate in educational, cultural and artistic exchanges by collaborating with their counterparts.

Likewise, MU students, faculty and community citizens have benefited from involvement with the institute.

Could you please explain MU's internationalization and globalization?

Handy Williamson: During recent years MU has launched active collaborations with more than 200 linkage partners around the globe in fields including education, corporate, foundations and government.

Faculty members from almost all of our 14 colleges are engaged in international education, curriculum related developments and collaborative research.

Student study abroad has grown at a rate of twice that of the national average, and the networks of global scholars and alumni continue to intensify and expand.

International students comprise almost 20 percent of MU's graduate student enrollment.

Total international student enrollment reached 3,000 this year. More than half of our international students come from China, India, South Korea and Vietnam.

MU's international students pump more than $60 million into the economy annually.

As the cultural ambassador between China and MU, could you please tell us what the value of this role is?

Wen Ouyang: MU, helping China establish the first two Schools of Journalism in 1920 and 1924 respectively, has had historical friendships and connections with China for almost 100 years.

MU's leaders value this heritage and wish to continue its relationship with China.

Encouraged by Vice-Provost Handy Williamson, I have facilitated development of MU-China collaborative programs at different levels and coordinated MU's leaders and administrators to communicate with the Chinese government, universities, and institutes.

Frankly, I really like this job. I grew up in Shanghai, China and received my PhD in Educational Leadership and Policy Analysis at MU. With these life experiences and academic background, I have a better understanding of both American and Chinese culture and beliefs.

The cultural ambassador plays a bridging role of connecting West-East thinking, improving mutual trust and developing cross-cultural dialogues.

My role is to help MU faculty, staff and students take a close look at Chinese history, culture, education, beliefs, people and society; then they can gradually get to know and understand the real China.

Could you please give some examples of collaborative programs between China and MU, and challenges you met during the MU-China cooperation?

Wen Ouyang: I facilitated the establishment of a collaborative program between MU's Department of Communication and the Asian Affairs Center and Shanghai Normal University, China.

This involved about 20 students coming to MU to study for two to three weeks in the summer. I coordinated MU's School of Business students to do internships in Xiamen.

I helped set up a faculty training program at MU for Xiamen University of Technology.

I took MU global scholars to visit China for two weeks and exchanged teaching and research experience and academic information with their Chinese counterparts.

Due to the different cultural traditions and values of the US and China, I had to think about things separately first and then consider how to balance them while working with MU's and Chinese partner universities' leaders, administrators and faculty. I was expected to do things the American way by MU people and the Chinese way by Chinese people. During the process of establishing the collaborative programs, I needed to gain the trust of both sides and to guide MU and Chinese partner universities to follow each other's cultural way; and then to build successful collaborative programs.

Could you please explain some of the programs and activities it developed and organized?

Wen Ouyang: The MU Confucius Institute has offered Chinese language courses at several Columbia public and private schools from junior kindergarten through to the 12th grade.

These classes are imbedded in schools' regular curriculums.

The institute has been also invited to offer Chinese language classes in before- and after-school programs at several elementary schools.

Some schools periodically request presentations and demonstrations on Chinese history, culture and arts. Chinese classes have also been offered to the local community.

We hosted a China Cultural and Art Night to celebrate the Chinese Year of the Dragon, and a Chinese Classic and Folk Dance Gala to celebrate MU's International Day and Chinese Moon Festival.

More than 1,200 people came to watch these two performances respectively.

The MU Confucius Institute has extensive influence and deep impact on both the local community and Missouri. Could you please talk about how and why it could play an important role?

Wen Ouyang: In partnership with Shanghai Normal University, the MU Confucius Institute has always merged its visions and missions with MU's international program strategies and concepts.

For example, the Chinese Classic and Folk Dance Gala was part of MU's International Day celebration, Chinese cultural demonstrations at Columbia Multicultural Night and international fairs at local schools.

The visit to China arranged for MU faculty in Global Scholars Program; and cultural activities designed for disabled and low income family students. The Institute coordinated Missouri governor's trade mission to China and Senator Kid Bond's delegation to visit China.

These programs and activities met the local educational goal of preparing students and faculty to have global and international awareness, developing Missouri's economy and promoting Missouri-China business and trade.