From October 18 to October 23, 2012, a three-people delegation of School of Public Administration of SCUT, which consisting Chair of School Affairs Committee Prof. Yang Zhaoxi (the head of Delegation), the Deputy Dean Prof. Fan Xu and the International Coordinator Dr. Yu Feng, embarked on a six-day official visit to the U.S. partner universities. This visit aimed not only at paying a return visit to partner universities, but also at propelling the internationalization of the undergraduate and graduate education, furthermore, exploring more channels for international exchange and cooperation.
The first stop is Maxin Goodman Levin College of Urban Affairs of Cleveland State University. The parts concerned of the CSUOhio accorded the SPA-SCUT Delegation a warm hospitality and a high-grade reception during the two-day visit: The President of CSUOhio Prof. Berkman specially treated the delegation members with a special breakfast meeting. What’s more, he also attended the MOU Signing Ceremony held on Oct. 20th, in which more than 40 guests including the representatives of the local government, faculty members and students of CSUOhio as well as several local overseas Chinese celebrities presented and witnessed. For this ceremony, both the Governor of the State of Ohio and the Mayor of the City of Cleveland exclusively sent their letters of congratulation, respectively. After the ceremony, the heads from different departments of CSUOhio (including the heads of Graduate School, Admission, International Students etc.) attended a round- table negotiation for discussing the collaboration details. In addition, the delegation dropped by to participate in “The White House National Urban Fellows Training” hosted by Levin College with the special sponsorship from U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD); and the delegation members also actively exchanged with the people engaged in the training comprising the former Governor of the State of Ohio, the U.S. Senator and the other city managers from over the U. S., concerning the wide issues of urban management and regional development.
The second stop is the School of Planning and Public Policy of Rutgers University, New Brunswick. Accompanied by Dr. Yuan Hong of Rutgers, the Delegation visited some university facilities such as the College Building, the Campus Center of Student Affairs and the Library, so as to learn more actual situation bout the living and study in New Brunswick campus.
The final stop is the School of Public Affairs and Administration of Rutgers University, Newark. Dean Prof. Holzer— the former Chairperson of the American Society for Public Administration (ASPA) and also one of most important senior scholar of global reputation— give audience to the delegation, besides, the Director of International Affairs Prof. Shick and the other several representatives of faculty members presented, pursuing an in-depth discussion for mutual academic exchanges and cooperation with SPA-SCUT delegation. Moreover, the Rutgers SPAA committed that they would attempt to accelerate the following collaboration procedures and gave high consideration to the SCUT candidates.
All in all, this highly-intensified visit to the U. S. gains favorable achievements. Expectedly, it would positively play a constructive role for strengthening the partnerships between SCUT and the American universities!
