Northwestern to Host University President From China
Posted on April 23, 2008
Northwestern is expanding its relationships around the world, reaching as far as China.
Northwestern administrators are exploring a relationship with the Tianjin University of Traditional Chinese Medicine located in Northeast China. The Tianjin University’s president Dr. Zhang Boli will be visiting the Northwestern campus Thursday.
Three faculty members from the Minnesota College of Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine graduated from Tianjin - Huan Ma, TCMD (China), PhD; Tao Gong, MS, TCMD (China); and Wei Liu, TCAM (China), LAc.
Since 2003, there have been discussions of developing an exchange program and two groups of Northwestern students have traveled to China to visit Tianjin University. Tianjin University was established in 1958 and now has more than 8,000 students. It owns three affiliated hospitals and 13 teaching hospitals.
"We’d talked about ways to finalize an academic exchange but we weren’t able to get on the same page because of other commitments,” explained Mark McKenzie, MCAOM dean.
When Dr. Zhang became president, Northwestern established a stronger connection with the help of Dr. Ma, whose PhD adviser was Dr. Zhang. Dr. Zhang has been recognized at both the state level in China and ministerial levels for his scientific research in China.
"Dr. Zhang decided to come here and that propelled a letter of understanding that sets the base of cooperation for proposals that are of particular interest to both universities,” McKenzie said.
During Dr. Zhang’s time at Northwestern, administrators will discuss several proposals for cooperation between the two schools along with a formal signing ceremony confirming the relationship between the two universities.
The first proposal would establish a formal student exchange for Northwestern students to travel to China to take classes and Chinese students to travel to Northwestern for part of the school year.
The second proposal would create possible joint certification courses that would be co-developed by faculty at both universities and then delivered via the Internet or possibly using the new Smart Center that will open at Northwestern next year.
Also during his visit, Dr. Zhang will visit the China Center at the University of Minnesota.
Northwestern administrators will travel to China in November 2008 to work on additional proposals and potentially solidify the details of any initiatives discussed during Dr. Zhang’s time in Minnesota this week.
The administrative visit would correspond with the World Federation of Chiropractors conference held on Nov. 10-11 in the capital city of Beijing. McKenzie said Northwestern representatives may present at the conference as the Chinese are interested in learning more about chiropractic education as well.
McKenzie said Northwestern is excited about the opportunities to work with Tianjin, which is one of the highest-rated schools China.
"The partnership is in line with the University’s mission and strategic plan,” he said. “We are always looking for ways to improve the quality of education we provide.”
McKenzie said the relationship will also benefit students and Northwestern’s influence on a global scale.
"It provides an exchange opportunity for our students to be exposed to diverse settings and how health care is practiced in China,” he said. “We have an interest in developing Northwestern as a leader not only nationwide, but internationally.”