On November 11th, the Chinese Bridge For American Principals Workshop on Sino-US Higher Education was held at the Meeting Hall of Mingde Building, central campus, Shandong University. The theme was "The Mission and Challenges of Higher Education in the Context of Globalization: Innovation, Cooperation and Understanding." Zhang Rong, President of Shandong University, James Montoya, Vice-president of College Board, attended the opening ceremony. Lou Hong Xiang, SDU Vice-president for International Affairs, Personnel and Academics, presided over the opening ceremony.

Zhang Rong extended a warm welcome to the American Principals Delegation on behalf of Shandong University and briefly introduced the Qilu Culture symbolized by ’one mountain, one river and one saint,’ and spoken on the current development of Shandong University.

He stated that he and his colleagues are eager to engage in an in-depth discussion on the practice and experience in innovation, scientific research and international exchange with the American principals, and expressed his hope that both countries’ universities will constantly strengthen exchanges and cooperation.

James Montoya expressed his thanks for the opportunity provided by Hanban and SDU to communicate in the fields of higher education between China and the US. He believed that it was of vital importance to strengthen the management of universities and American higher education should find an equilibrium point between "Change and innovation" and "Traditional and sustainable development".

He said that American higher education should seize the opportunity to create a new situation of education through modern technologies and emerging opportunities to provide more chances for more people to enjoy their rights to education. He believed that both sides had the responsibility to push forward the advancement of education and build a better world by putting knowledge into practice. He hoped that both sides will deepen cooperation in the future.

Soon afterwards, the seminar inquired into the following four subjects: “Student Mobility for a Global Economy, Innovation, Trends and Future Directions in Chinese and American Higher Education”, “Innovative Models for International Academic Exchange and Engagement” and “Community and Vocational Colleges and Their Role in Preparing Students for the Global Economy.”

Those who attended shared their experiences and had a lively discussion about international development, students exchange patterns, curriculum building, and the challenges of international communication.

At the end, SDU proposed more cooperation with American universities in fields such as student exchange, enhancing the relationships on the school level, scientific research and intercultural communication. We hope to form a fixed communication mechanism in the near future in support of the College Board and Han Ban to contribute to the relationship building between universities in the two countries. The proposition received positive support.

Prior to the conference, Zhang Rong also met with the delegation of leaders from colleges and universities in the US, who visited SDU’s Museum, SDU’s History Museum, and the Chinese Culture Experience Hall, and enjoyed a live concert given by the Chinese orchestra of SDU.

The program of leaders of American colleges and universities visiting China was initiated by Han Ban and the College Board in 2013. The visiting American colleges and universities included Stanford University, Brown University, UCLA, University of Washington, and University of Rochester. The seminar is an important activity in leaders of American colleges and universities visiting China project, whose goal is to promote a deep communication and exchange between colleges and universities in China and the US. Delegates from the College Board and 50 American colleges and universities, representatives of teachers and leading officials from related functional department of SDU attended the seminar.

Source:www.view.sdu.edu.cn