BU builds relationships with China

BU has been strengthening its ties with Chinese universities as it hosts scholars from China.

Four students from Shandong University of Technology in Shandong Province are currently taking courses in BU's computer science program, according to Youmin Lu, professor of mathematics, computer science and statistics.

Bu has established a 3-1 exchange program between the computer science programs at the two universities. Under the program, students study computer science for three years at SDUT and finish their degree program in the fourth year at BU. The curriculum during the first three years has been developed to meet all BU course requirements both in the major and in general education. When the students come to Bloomsburg, they enroll primarily in upper level computer science and mathematics courses.

While some students from Shandong are already at BU, a larger group of approximately 24 students is expected to arrive on campus in fall 2010. Similar programs in physics and engineering technology are in the discussion stage and may become a reality in the next few years.

Shown from left to right are: Shoubu Su, Yan Chen, Victoria Rainis, Dr. Jeffrey Long, Jiezhong Wang, and Sanchuan Wu.

As part of the partnership agreement with Shandong University, BU hosted the first four members of SDUT's administration for a year-long visit to Bloomsburg to study American university administration procedures and to further their study of English: Jiezhong Wang, Sanchuan Wu, Shoubu Su, Zhang Feng. Upon their departure from BU, their ESL tutor, Victoria Rainis, arranged exit interviews with several available administrators.

The Partnership program also offers the opportunity for BU faculty to teach and do collaborative research at SDUT either on a semester basis or for shorter terms. Faculty from all disciplines are eligible for teaching in this program. There is a strong demand for faculty to teach English, and other general education courses. Interested individuals should contact Youmin Lu in the department of mathematics, computer science, and statistics or Madhav Sharma in the International Education Office.

In addition to the students in computer science, BU is also hosting Chen Yan, an accounting professor from Dongbei University of Finance and Economics Dalian on the northeast coast of China. Yan, who is also vice director of the accounting department at Dongbei, is doing joint accounting research with accounting professor Dennis Hwang and writing scholarly articles. Sponsored by the Chinese government, she is also exploring BU's courses with a focus on the university's fraud accounting program.