A group of administrators from Guidaojiaotong Polytechnic Institute (GPI) in the Liaoning Province of China visited Washtenaw Community College in late September, touring the college’s facilities in an effort to learn more about the American community college system and to discuss possibilities for collaborations of mutual benefit to students, faculty and staff at both institutions.
Delegates from Guidaojiaotong Polytechnic Institute traveled to Ann Arbor to visit with WCC administration. | Photo by CJ South
The trip was a follow-up to WCC President Dr. Rose B. Bellanca’s trip to China late last year.
During that visit, Bellanca signed a Memorandum of Understanding with GPI Chairman Dr. Fengyu Bao as an indication of friendship and cooperation.
“We enjoyed the visit by our friends from China and are moving forward on some ideas generated to work together to provide exchange and mutual understanding opportunities that will benefit students and faculty at both institutions,” Bellanca said.
GPI Vice President Bing Li was the lead delegate on the trip. He was joined by Director of Admissions and Student Affairs Guojun Liu and Director of Teaching Quality and Supervision Lingyu Miao. GPI faculty member Yang Zhan, who teaches English, served as an interpreter.
Also in attendance was Dr. Louis Yen, Associate Director of the Confucius Institute at the University of Michigan. It was Yen who first connected the two institutions.
Presentations were shared by representatives from each institution on the schools’ respective curriculum, structure, processes and services.
Delegates met with their counterparts from WCC, including Vice Presidents Dr. Kimberly Hurns (VP of Instruction), Linda Blakey (VP of Student & Academic Services), and Dr. Michelle Mueller (VP of Economic, Community and College Development), Executive Director of Institutional Effectiveness, Planning and Accreditation Julie Morrison, and Executive Director of Online Learning Peter Baccile.
While on the campus, the delegates were given a tour led by Dean of Advanced Technologies and Public Service Careers Brandon Tucker, including an in-depth look at the Health and Fitness Center and the Advanced Transportation Center.
Tags: China, Chinese educators, Dr. Rose B. Bellanca, October 2018, On The Record, ousearch_News_On The Record