While leadership may have changed this past summer at Shoreline Community College, the commitment to international education is as strong as ever.
In December, college President Cheryl Roberts, International Education Executive Director Diana Sampson and Associate Director of Outreach Bo Fu visited China, Cambodia and Indonesia.
“We fully accomplished our mission to strengthen Shoreline’s relationships and cooperation with international partners and laid a foundation for future global engagement and exchange,” Sampson said. “The trip was very successful.”
Shoreline is ranked in the top 20 of colleges and universities across the U.S. welcoming students from around the globe. Shoreline now has more than 1,000 students from 34 countries attending the college. Bringing international students to the campus is part of the college’s overall efforts to help all students be successful in an increasingly globalized world.
Washington is one of the most trade-dependent states in the country with more than two-thirds of all jobs impacted by international trade, Roberts noted.
“This was a terrific trip,” said Roberts, who came to Shoreline in August, 2014 after seven years as president at Chemeketa Community College, in Salem, Ore. She has previously held positions at South Seattle College, the University of Washington and other colleges. “I was able to see and participate in this important global outreach effort. International education is important to all our students and the communities we serve.”
Some of the December trip highlights include:
China
Dec. 9 – Meeting with Zong Wa, Deputy Secretary General of China Education Association for International Exchange (CEAIE) and Li Yang, Director of CEAIE, which is directly under the Ministry of Education in China. Zong Wa has been actively helping to promote Shoreline in China, including assistance with the Chinese government grant Shoreline has received for automotive technician training.
Dec. 10 – Visited Beijing Limai International School. Limai is one of Shoreline’s partner high schools in China. The Shoreline group met with Principal Liu and other school officials, faculty members and students. Roberts and Sampson spoke to the students at an assembly. A group of students from Limai is expected at Shoreline this month.
Dec. 11-12 – Visited Qingdao University. Qingdao University is one of Shoreline’s main university partners. Over the past two years, they have sent more than 25 students to Shoreline and continue to discuss opportunities for more student and faculty exchange. The meeting included Vice President Shao Fengjing, Dean Jin Kaixian, Assistant President Zhou Xiaoli and other university officials. Shoreline will continue to work with Qingdao University to strengthen and expand the cooperation between the two institutions.
Dec. 13 – Visited Shanghai Qiyi High School Affiliated to Tongji University. The meeting included Principal Zhou Jun and Ms. Daili from Shanghai Municipal Education Bureau. The meeting was very productive and will strengthen Shoreline’s presence in Shanghai.
Cambodia
Dec. 15 – Visited BELTEI University to follow up on an earlier memorandum of understanding signed last year. Shoreline is the only U.S. higher education institution to partner with this university. The meetings included President Ly, Vice President Ly other university officials. BELTEI would like to establish scholarships for Cambodian students to study at Shoreline and also develop short-term study abroad programs for Shoreline students to travel to Cambodia and learn about Cambodia history, life and culture.
Dec. 16 -17 – Visited the University of Cambodia; met with University of Cambodia officials and American faculty members who were teaching at the university. The meetings included students attending the University. Also visited Northbridge International School, a private international school in Cambodia. Shoreline officials met with the Vice Principal and Counselor John Nash and toured of the school and met teachers and students in classrooms. Northbridge is known as one of the most progressive high schools in Phnom Penh and will be a valuable partner. Next was a visit to Keystone Language School with owner and agent, Chenng How Pay. Pay is primary contact in Cambodia for Shoreline. And the visit strengthened already strong partners and networks in Cambodia.
Indonesia
Dec. 18 – Shoreline met with key partners, including Marta Legowo from Interlink; Evi Sitorus from Syscom; Vonny Agustine from Sun Education Group, and Djohan Fadjar from PIL Overseas Education Consultants. Shoreline officials presented a seminar with several parents and students.
Dec. 19 – Visited Bakrie University in Jakarta, one of the fastest growing universities in Indonesia and an institution that Roberts had an existing connection to. Meetings included Rector Sofia Alisjahbana and Vice Rector Dr. Darminto, as well as deans and faculty from Bakrie University to discuss potential areas of cooperation. Included was a tour of the Department of Communications and Media and meetings with department faculty to discuss possible collaborations with film program.
Dec. 20 – At the invitation of parents met by Roberts during fall quarter, met with the parents of current international students.
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