Office of China Programs

Dr. Mary Mundt, Dean of MSU’s College of Nursing and Dr. Teresa Wehrwein, Assistant Dean of the college, visited Chongqing Medical University from Nov. 28 – 30, 2007. During the visit, a formal cooperative agreement between MSU and Chongqing Medical University was signed. The Nursing Colleges from the two universities will initiate a series of student and faculty exchange programs next year.

Dr Frank Fear, Senior Associate Dean of MSU’s College of Agriculture and Natural Resources, attended Suzhou Polytechnic Institute of Agriculture’s (SPIA) 100th Anniversary celebration as a representative of MSU.  Dr. Fear was asked to give a greeting speech, not only representing MSU, but also all the foreign guests from Japan, Italy and the Netherlands. SPIA is the oldest agricultural school in Jiangsu Province. MSU established an exchange relationship with SPIA in 2000 and signed the agreement to launch a joint education program on Turfgrass management in 2003. Dr. Fear also met and talked with students enrolled in the joint education program.

On September 18, 2007, MSU’s President Simon met with 21 students from the first cohort of the MSU – China joint education program on Turfgrass Management. These students arrived at MSU in early September, took two weeks of classes at MSU and then went to different locations in the country for five-month internships. This is the first joint education program MSU developed with China. This cohort of students will graduate in June 2008

MSU Professor Trey Rogers and his colleagues visited Beijing from September 5 – 12, 2007. The purpose of the visit was to plant seeds in the module field for the 2008 Olympics Games. In May 2007, MSU won the contract from China Sports Industry Group (CSI) to provide consultant services in construction of a portable athletic field in the National Stadium for 2008 Olympic Games. This trip is one of the several scheduled trips to help CSI build the field. The portable athletic field will be moved into the National Stadium in August 2008 immediately after the opening ceremony of the games.

From June 10 – August 10, 2007, with support from MSU’s English Language Center (ELC), the Office of China Programs conducted a pilot English training program at its office in Beijing.  Ten students, provisionally admitted by MSU, enrolled in the program. ELC instructor Stephanie Shinault taught the class. This pilot program provided rich experiences for the students and lessons for us to run such programs in China in the future.

Dr. Yin Yibin, Executive Associate Dean for the School of Biosystem Engineering and Food Science of Zhejiang University, visited MSU’s Department of Biosystems and Agricultural Engineering on June 14, along with two of his graduate students. Last year the departments signed an agreement to launch a 3+1 joint education program on biosystems engineering.

Mr. Guiqing Han, President of Heilongjiang Academy of Agricultural Sciences (HAAS), and his colleagues visited MSU on June 15. The main interest of the visit was to study bioenergy research work at MSU and to discuss potential opportunities for collaboration. This year Jeffrey Armstrong, Dean of the MSU College of Agriculture and Natural Resources, and HAAS's President Han signed an agreement to establish a joint research center on bio-fuel and alternative energy.

On June 15, MSU President Lou Anna K. Simon and Provost Kim Wilcox met with Dr. Wenbin Zhou, President of Nanchang University, at Cowles House. President Zhou led a five-member delegation to MSU to develop bilateral cooperative relationships. During their stay at MSU, the delegation visited the Department of Food Science and Human Nutrition, the National Center for Food Safety and Toxicology, the Institute for Food Laws and Regulations, and the Center for Water Science. President Zhou and President Simon signed a letter of intent for academic cooperation.

On May 25, 2007, Drs. Frank Fear, Eunice Foster, and Weijun Zhao visited the College of Engineering of China Agricultural University (CAU). Dr. Yankung Peng, CAU Dean, and colleagues met with the visitors from MSU. Both sides discussed issues related to the new signed agreement between the CAU College of Engineering and the MSU Department of Biosystem and Agricultural Engineering. The group decided to launch the new joint education program in fall of 2008.

On May 22, 2007, MSU's Admissions Office, Office of International Students and Scholars (OISS), and China Office, jointly held the first-ever video conference in Beijing to welcome newly admitted students. Over 70 students attended the conference. MSU Provost Kim Wilcox gave a welcome speech. Officers from Admissions and OISS as well as several international students represented MSU and answered the newly admitted students' questions. MSU admitted 176 new students from China in 2007, which is a significant increase over 2006.

The first cohort of 25 students from the joint education program on turfgrass management took a group picture after the first video confernce. The students will come to the U.S. this fall for a five month internship.

The annual Five-University Conference on Turfgrass Management was held on May 22-23, in Beijing. In 2003, MSU and four Chinese universities (Beijing Forestry University, Northeast Agricultural University, Sichuan Agricultural University, and Suzhau Polytechnic Institute of Agriculture) signed an agreement to launch a joint education program on Turfgrass Management. In the last four years, more than 200 students enrolled in the program.

On May 15, a delegation led by Dr. Lei Han, President of Chongqing Medical University, visited MSU's College of Nursing in order to initiate a student and faculty exchange program between the two nursing schools. The delegation met with MSU Provost Kim Wilcox, the College of Nursing's Dean, Mary Mundt, and Associate Dean, Teresa Wehrwein. The College of Nursing plans to sign a cooperative agreement with Chongqing Medical University in September of this year.

Dr. John Hudzik, Vice President for Global Engagement and Strategic Projects, met with the Hunan University delegation on May 8, 2007. The delegation was led by Dr. Zhang Jing, University Vice President. While at MSU, they visited the Confucius Institute, the Center for International Business Education and Research, and the College of Engineering.

Dr. Ron Cichy, Director of the MSU School of Hospitality Business, met with Dr. Pen Qing, Associate Dean of the Zhongshan University School of Tourism, and Dr. Aylwin Tai, President of China Club Manager Association, at Anaheim, California on Feb 24, 2007. The group engaged in a discussion on developing a joint education program on the hospitality business.