Sichuan University Intensive Language Training Center’s Dean Song and President Stephen Jordan.

The two separate trips to China by Metro State faculty, staff and students last month are expected to lead to future collaborations between the College and various Chinese institutions of higher education.

Jordan-led trip to Kunming and Chengdu
Globalization Director Betsy Zeller, who along with several other faculty and staff accompanied President Stephen Jordan to China, said the delegation signed two agreements, one with Yunnan Radio and Television University (YNRTVU) in Kunming and one with the Ministry of Education in the Chengdu municipality.

The Yunnan agreement formalized the sister school relationship between Metro State and YNRTVU, committing both colleges to encourage and support faculty and student exchanges and other forms of cooperation. The agreement is expected to be amended when these activities are finalized.

In addition, the delegation was informed that the joint grant application that Metro State and YNRTVU had submitted to the Chinese Ministry of Education to establish a Confucius Institute at Metro State had passed preliminary review. The two institutions are now in process of submitting more information toward the grant application. Confucius Institutes are centers funded by the Chinese government to promote Chinese language and culture and interaction between higher education institutions in China and their global counterparts.

The Jordan delegation at the Stone Forest (l to r):Marilyn Hetzel, LiYing Lee, Stephen and Ruth Jordan, Rodolfo Garcia, Betsy Zeller, Lisa Ortiz and Donald Chang. (The woman in the center and the man second from right are Chinese natives who accompanied the group.)

Also in Kunming, the delegation attended the national Disabled Sports Persons Meeting, at which they represented Denver, Kunming's Sister City, on behalf of Mayor John Hickenlooper. An interview between Jordan and the deputy mayor of Kunming, in which Jordan presented a letter from Hickenlooper, was aired on a news broadcast in Kunming that night. 

In Chengdu, Metro State’s delegates met with representatives from Sichuan University (SU), Chengdu Metropolitan University and the Chengdu Municipal Education Bureau. There they formalized a memorandum with the education bureau to enhance educational cooperation between Metro State and institutions of higher education in Chengdu.

“This memorandum turned out to be even better than we had anticipated,” said Zeller, noting that the agreement with the bureau broadened the scope of the agreement, originally planned just with SU.

Zeller said the Intensive Language Training Center at SU has already established a relationship with Douglas County Schools, which currently offers classes in Chinese language and leads trips annually to Chengdu. Kathy O’Donnell, Metro State assistant professor of technical communications, will be traveling to Chengdu with the Douglas County group this summer, where she will teach English and learn about the Chinese language and culture.

“It’s a perfect triad,” said Zeller, between Metro State, Douglas County Schools and Sichuan University.

Zeller concluded, “Our Chinese hosts really treated us well,” adding that the Metro State delegation was feted with tours and banquets and presented with unusual Chinese delicacies. “They were the most gracious, hospitable hosts I’ve ever seen.”

Zeller is scheduled to return to China on June 24. She applied for and received a grant from the Chinese Ministry of Education to attend the China Bridge forum in Beijing, where she will learn more about the Chinese system of higher education and other projects with Chinese institutions that Metro State might undertake. “This is my first international grant,” said Zeller. “I’m looking forward to learning how we can line Metro State up for future projects.”

Brand Spankin New trip to Beijing

The BSN group at the Great Wall of China (l to r): Josh, a friend from Hawaii who joined the group, Brian Glotzbach, Mick Jackowski, Mingli He, Ken Phillips and Jared Arp.

During the same time as the Jordan-led trip, five Metro State faculty and students representing Brand Spankin New, the College’s student-run e-commerce Web site, went to Beijing. There they attended the World Practices in Management Education conference and met with officials from Tsinghua University School of Art and Industrial Design andBeijing University of Posts and Telecommunications.

According to Mick Jackowski, assistant professor of marketing who went on the Beijing trip, “It looks promising for us to have some relationship with the Beijing University of Posts and Telecommunications, but it will take some time to work it out.” For starters, said Jackowski, the two institutions agreed to have their students review each others’ designs, likely beginning this fall.

The delegation also met with Lenovo Corporation, the largest personal computer manufacturer in China. “There is the added potential that their designers might review our students’ designs in the fall as well,” said Jackowski.

Jackowski said he looks forward to working with Zeller and the Globalization Office on future projects in China.