Chancellor on Asia Trip

Susan and I are excited to be leading the NC State delegation to Hong Kong, China and South Korea.

The connections we build abroad strengthen the NC State community and enhance our effectiveness as a university. The delegation plans to engage alumni, corporate leaders and university officials to develop partnerships that expand the impact of an NC State education.

Global awareness, as incorporated in goal five of the strategic plan, reinforces the student and faculty experience we cultivate on campus—an experience enhanced by the importance of civic and global knowledge, real-world experience and multiple perspectives. With more than 32 partner institutions and 44 different memorandums of understanding, NC State’s collaborative efforts in China and South Korea are imperative to meeting our strategic goals.

On this trip, we will meet with leaders of partner institutions and explore platforms for broadening engagement. Through more than 65 established programs in 10 Asian countries, our students and faculty engage in global experiences and partnerships that provide exchange, educational and research opportunities in a variety of disciplines from genomics and biotechnology to entrepreneurship and mechanical engineering design. But we must expand those connections to reflect the growing interests of a global society.

Additionally, we will meet with alumni, who are eager to reconnect with their alma mater, and industry leaders, who are interested in textiles and the global supply chain, a very pertinent connection for NC State. We also will visit global corporate leaders such as Samsung to build partnerships that bring international employment to our graduates. As a research-intensive, service-oriented institution of academic excellence, it is crucial we dedicate time and energy to cultivating these mutually beneficial global relationships–relationships that provide NC State students and faculty opportunities for success beyond campus coordinates.