Three Southern Illinois University Edwardsville leaders spent time in China during May strengthening bonds that will enhance diversity at SIUE as its faculty, students and staff continue to shape a changing world.
SIUE Executive Director of International Affairs Mary Weishaar, PhD, School of Engineering (SOE) Dean Cem Karacal, PhD, and Keqin Gu, PhD, distinguished research professor in the SOE Department of Mechanical Engineering, spent 10 days visiting the cities of Lanzhou, Beijing and Changshu.
Weishaar renewed an international partnership and met with SIUE travel study students at Northwest Normal University (NWNU) in Lanzhou. SIUE’s relationship with NWNU stretches back to 2012, and the University has hosted visiting scholars on a regular basis. While Weishaar was at NWNU, Karacal and Gu visited a prospective partner in Suzhou.
After Weishaar, Karacal and Gu visited new partners at Beijing Institute of Science and Technology University (BISTU), they traveled to Changshu Institute of Technology (CIT). They were introduced to engineering students, who will attend SIUE in a dual degree transfer program. CIT students enrolled in the dual degree program in fall 2018. Twenty-one CIT students are expected to join the SOE’s mechatronics and robotics program in January 2020.
“This trip was especially productive as we strive to maintain existing partnerships, develop new partnerships and implement new student exchange programs,” Weishaar said. “Our international partners share many goals with SIUE and show deep commitment to sustaining successful exchanges.”
“These international agreements with institutions promote faculty and student exchange, research collaboration and teaching collaboration,” Karacal said.
Photo: (Upper Right)-SIUE School of Engineering Dean Cem Karacal interacts with engineering students at Changshu Institute of Technology.
(Middle)-SIUE Exec. Dir. of International Affairs Mary Weishaar with Northwest Normal University Dir. of International Cooperation and Exchange Junchao Wang.