Rounding out a three-country tour,
the delegation of U.S. university presidents,
led by Secretary of Education Margaret Spellings
and Assistant Secretary of State Dina Powell,
traveled to Beijing, China, to herald the
U.S. as a premier destination for educational
opportunities. Additionally, Secretary Spellings
emphasized the desire of the U.S. to send
more students and professors to China for
educational studies and research collaborations.
Partnering with the Chinese government
to emphasize this message, Secretary Spellings
and Assistant Secretary Powell met with
Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao, as well as Minister
of Education Zhou Ji and other Ministry
of Education leaders. During the meetings
with these leaders, they discussed ways
the U.S. and China can work together to
equip students with the tools necessary
to compete in the global economy. To achieve
this effort, both countries discussed the
need to further Chinese language development
in the U.S. and English language development
in China. Moreover, to formalize their agreement
and pledge for cooperation, Secretary Spellings
and Minister Zouh signed a Memorandum of
Understanding noting mutual emphasis on
the advancement of international higher
education opportunities for U.S. and Chinese
students.
Following the signing ceremony, the delegation
joined in a roundtable discussion at Tsinghua
University, one of the country’s oldest
and most prestigious institutions of higher
education, with leaders from several Chinese
colleges and universities. Speaking on behalf
of the delegation, Dr. David Leebron, president
of Rice University, and Dr. James Owen,
president of Piedmont Community College,
discussed the increasing internationalization
of higher education and the development
of new strategies at higher education institutions
to effectively educate students to compete
and succeed in a global society.
The delegation also participated in an
event at Beijing Normal University with
an auditorium full of students. Dr. Shirley
Ann Jackson, president of Rensselaer Polytechnic
Institute, spoke about the diverse educational
options available to foreign students interested
in studying in the U.S. Secretary Spellings
and Secretary Powell further underscored
Dr. Jackson’s remarks highlighting
that the U.S. welcomes exchanges with Chinese
students and opens its doors to those interested
in studying in the U.S. Hitting this point
home, Secretary Spellings indicated that
in 2006, the U.S. Government issued almost
37,000 visas to Chinese students to study
abroad, a 33% increase from 2005. Following
her remarks, the Secretary addressed questions
from students on such issues as tuition
cost, grant opportunities, and transferability
of international college credits.
Also while in China, the delegation met
with an intimate group of American Chamber
of Commerce in Beijing members for a breakfast
meeting to discuss international higher
education issues in the U.S. and China.
Secretary Spellings emphasized the need
to work together to prime all students to
compete in the global economy. Dr. Philip
Eaton, president of Seattle Pacific University,
and Dr. Charles Steadman Upham, president
of the University of Tulsa, accentuate elements
of this discussion during their remarks,
noting the increase in the international
study programs offered by U.S. colleges
and universities. They also analyzed the
types of skills businesses in China are
looking for, particularly considering the
great demand for human capital throughout
the country.
The delegation attended a reception with
over 150 USG student exchange alumni to
talk about their study abroad experiences
and ways the U.S. colleges and universities
can more effectively recruit foreign students
to study in our country.
Secretary Spellings also had the opportunity
to visit one of the Seven Wonders of the
World, the Great Wall of China. Prior to
the delegation’s departure, they discussed
the historic importance of this trip as
a critical first step toward increased collaboration
between the United States and other countries,
particularly China, Korea and Japan, to
foster greater international higher education
exchanges and partnerships.
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