NC State University to Host Summit on U.S./China K-12 Education Partnerships

North Carolina State University will be the host for a summit on U.S./China education partnerships on Thursday, May 1, at the Friday Institute for Educational Innovation on Centennial Campus. The summit will feature the signing of a memorandum of understanding between the State Board of Education and China’s Jiangsu Provincial Department of Education.

The goals of the memorandum are to continue developing programs and activities between North Carolina and Jiangsu Province, strengthen knowledge and understanding of each other’s countries and cultures, and create a framework for a sustainable relationship.

“Our students live in a world in which they will do business across the globe,” says Howard Lee, chairman of the State Board of Education. “This partnership with Jiangsu Province in China will help link schools and students to experiences that will better prepare them for the future.”

The event will include breakout sessions focusing on current North Carolina collaborations and partnerships with China.

“The College of Education and the Friday Institute for Educational Innovation are pleased to host this important summit,” says NC State College of Education Dean Kathyrn Moore. “In an increasingly global society, educators need to take the lead in demonstrating how to collaborate in creating a 21st century education for all students around the world.”

“Nurturing global partnerships and preparing students for new ways of learning, living and working are goals shared by the participants in this summit,” says NC State Provost Larry A. Nielsen. “The summit will provide an opportunity for faculty and students to strengthen existing partnerships with China and create new ones as we expand our connections across the globe.”

The event will also feature Vivien Stewart, vice president for education and Chinese education specialist at the Asia Society; Yong Zhao, director of the U.S.-China Center for Research on Educational Excellence and University Distinguished Professor of Education at Michigan State University; First Lady of North Carolina Mary Easley; and former Gov. James B. Hunt Jr.

The summit is sponsored by NC State’s Confucius Institute, NC State’s College of Education, NC State’s Friday Institute for Educational Innovation, the State Board of Education, the Center for International Understanding, N.C. Department of Public Instruction, and North Carolina Business Committee for Education.

For more information about the event, visit the Web at http://www.fi.ncsu.edu/newlit/blog/?p=127.

– gregg –