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Chinese Faculty Delegation In 2002, I organized a 14-member Chinese Faculty Delegation to visit Lanzhou University, Dalian Institute of Technology and several other universities in China. The trip was a huge success. The delegation was warmly welcomed by the Chinese universities and their faculties. The delegation had the privilege of meeting with the Vice Minister of Education, Mr. Zhao, Qinping and other high level education officials. Through the visit, we not only had fruitful academic exchanges with our Chinese counterparts, we also helped many of our Chinese faculty members establish research connections, which eventually led to collaborative projects. The trip was financially supported by the Chinese government (through the Chinese Consulate in Chicago), MSU International Studies and Programs (ISP), and the Office of Vice President for Research and Graduate Studies (OVPRGS). Since the 2002 visit, MSU has hired many new Chinese faculty members in different colleges and departments. These faculty members have played an important role in their respective teaching and research capacities. With their natural connections with their native country, I believe they also form the backbone of existing and future exchange programs between MSU and China. Many Chinese faculty members have expressed wishes that we organize another delegation to China in the near future. In response to our faculty enthusiasm, I propose to organize a 12-member Chinese faculty delegation to China the summer of 2008. This trip is intended to develop new research cooperative projects between MSU and Chinese universities and to help MSU’s Chinese faculty improve existing research collaboration with their counterparts in China. Tentatively, we’re planning to visit two universities this trip: Sichuan University and Nanchang University. Sichuan University is one of the most important universities in western part of China. It established a formal exchange relationship with MSU in early 1980. Nanchang University signed an MOU last October when Vice President Ian Gray visited the university. Vice Minister of Education, Ms. Wu Qidi, helped to establish this new linkage between the two universities. We anticipate that once we arrive at each Chinese university, all the expenses, including lodging, food and local transportation will be covered up by the hosting university. We need to pay for the international and domestic travel expenses of the delegation. I contacted the Chinese Consulate in Chicago and they welcome the proposal and agreed to provide half of the international travel funds. Vice President Ian Gray and ISP Dean Jeffrey Riedinger also agreed to provide another half of the travel funds. The proposed travel dates will be the last week of May and first week of June, 2008. The total budget for the two weeks trip is $2500/person. The breakdown is as follows: The Estimated International and Domestic airfare is $2200/person (which will be covered by Chinese Consulate, OVPRGS, and ISP) Lodging in Beijing and other miscellaneous expenses is $300/person (which will be covered by the participating faculty or his/her department) I still have not found an institution to host our delegation in Beijing when we first arrive, therefore I propose the lodging and other expenses in Beijing, including both arrival and departure dates, be covered by the faculty or their departments. Please send your resume, presentation title, and research topics to me if you are interested in joining us, no later than March 1, 2008. Then, I will contact the Sichuan University and Nanchang University to find matching research interests and faculty members. I hope to make the final announcement of the delegation name list by April 15, 2008. Thanks for your attention, please feel free to contact me if you have any questions.
Weijun Zhao |
