Spring 2011 - University Of Southern Indiana

President’s PerspectiveChina trip: learning from international studyUSI’s strategic plan emphasizesthe importance of “experientiallearning.” Enhancing internationalstudy opportunities is onepart of this goal. Most programdevelopment focuses on students,but a college president can learna great deal from a study-abroadBennettopportunity, too! I was delightedto have just such an opportunityin October when I traveled to Beijing, China, for ahigher education conference and student recruitmentexposition.The Beijing student recruitment “Expo” broughttogether more than 35,000 Chinese students and parentsto explore educationalopportunities at universitiesaround the world. Iwas proud to see the USIbanner posted in therecruitment booth whereI worked representingstate college and universitiesin the United States.Watching students millingfrom booth to booth,I thought about the 23students from Chinaby Dr. Linda L. M. Bennett, PresidentLinda Bennett, second from right, tours Minzu University in Beijing.already on USI’s campus. After five days in China, Icould appreciate how challenging it must have been forthem to move so far from home, adjust to a different cultureand language, and absorb the knowledge necessaryto continue their education.The highlight of our sightseeing tours was, withoutquestion, visiting the Great Wall — a remarkable edificethat took more than 2,000 years to build. It snakes alongmountain ridges as far as the eye can see. I also wasdelighted to have the opportunity to visit with the presidentand administrative team from Minzu University inBeijing, where I attended an art exhibit and toured animpressive campus museum featuring costumes of thediverse peoples of China.I left China with the hope of returning to learnmore. With USI’s selectionas one of 10 universitiesin the nation toparticipate in a programto develop partnershipswith Chinese universitiesthrough the Institute ofInternational Education,that hope will be realizedand shared with facultyand students. Learning isgoing global at USI!President’s Perspective appears in each issue of USI Magazine.March 20112University of Southern Indiana