Miami stengthens ties with Chinese universities

I had the honor of representing Miami University at Shanxi Normal University’s 50th anniversary celebration. At the Presidential Forum, in the company of other deans and university presidents representing 30 colleges from Korea, Japan, China and the US, I introduced President Hodge’s vision of Miami as an engaged university, and affirmed Miami’s commitment to internationalization. There was further cause for celebration as we signed a memorandum of agreement between Miami and Shanxi Normal University to work cooperatively on student and faculty exchanges.

Shanxi sits in the heart of the historical city of Ping Yao, 100 miles from Taiyuan, capital of Shanxi Province. Pin Yao is one of the most well-preserved historical cities in China, with a continuous history of 2700 years. Dr. David Yen and I were amazed at how the historical architectures blended together so seamlessly with the few new modern buildings.

In Shanghai, the most prosperous city in China and home to Shanghai University of Finance and Economics, the country's largest business school, I visited over lunch with Yan Wang and Huang Yanhua, two former Miami exchange students. While they were happy to be back home in Shanghai, they talked nostalgically of Miami's dedicated professors and the close friends they made while they were in Oxford. Yan Wang still keeps in touch with Dr. Thomas Boulton from Finance. She is in the process of applying to to MBA programs in the US, with Miami as her first choice!

In the evening, we enjoyed kielbasa, sauerkraut and dark beer with Jacky Chen, Miami MBA 2005, at his favorite German restaurant. Jackie has established a successful career in private equity and is pursuing additional graduate work at Fudan University.

“For me, education and success in business are inseparable," stated Chen. “I credit my time at Miami for my incessant desire to learn as much as I can about the fields of finance and entrepreneurship. Even if business is going well, I know I need to continue to broaden my field of knowledge in order stay ahead of the game.”

Later in the evening, With Jackie’s words in mind, I jostled my way through the crowded streets of Nanjing’s night market. Shops stay open until 3:00 am, with no lack of customers. I bargained to the best of my ability with a vendor for a calligraphy scroll of Zhang Ji’s poetry, but I was always a bit distracted by the breathtaking night scenery of the Bund. I may not have gotten the very best deal on the scroll, but this scene comes to my mind whenever I glance at the picture hanging on the northern wall of my study.

On our last stop, we toured the facilities at Shanghai Jiao Tong University and met with 10 Miami students spending the semester there. All were enjoying their classes and travels in China. Occasionally, however, I was left out of the conversation as they chattered away in Chinese with David Yen. Apparently, they are receiving high quality language instruction and are taking full advantage of the immersion experience.

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