Partnership to boost exchange opportunities in Asia

Submitted by Marmian Grimes
Phone: 907-474-7902
08/05/09

A newly inked partnership with the Chinese Education Association for International Exchange stands to bolster opportunities for student exchange with Asian universities.

As part of the partnership, representatives from eight Chinese universities and one Taiwanese university will visit the University of Alaska Fairbanks campus this weekend to discuss research and education partnerships.

The meeting will run Aug. 7-9 and will focus on developing research partnerships and student exchange opportunities. Daniel Julius, academic affairs vice president for the University of Alaska system, is spearheading the partnership for UA campuses.

"These partnerships will help enable us, as a state, to take research and economic development through education and research to the next level," Julius said.

During the conference, visitors will hear from various university programs, as well as other experts on international partnerships. Speakers from outside the university system include Mitch Leventhal, vice provost of international affairs at the University of Cincinnati; Yvon Desportes, dean of international affairs at Montpellier Business School in France; Jiang Bo, secretary general of CEAIE; and Shao Wie, chief education consul of the Consulate General of the People’s Republic of China in San Francisco. Visitors will also hear about life in Fairbanks from Chinese faculty members and students at UAF.

Organizers said the exchange partnership could help spur growth in the university’s research programs, improve efficiency and up the number of students graduating with degrees in high-demand professions. Eight of the nine schools have already signed agreements with the university.

CONTACT: Dan Julius, UA academic affairs vice president, at 907-450-8018 or daniel.julius@alaska.edu. Erica Goff, Summer Sessions public information officer, at 907-474-7588 or via e-mail at elgoff@alaska.edu. Marmian Grimes, UAF public information officer, at 907-474-7902 or marmian.grimes@alaska.edu.

NOTE TO EDITORS: A complete schedule and list of participants is available by contacting Goff.

EG/8-5-09/024-10