Wednesday, July 19, 2006

Writer: Wendy Jones, 706/542-6927, wfjones@uga.edu

Contact: Doug Toma, 706/542-4836, jdt@uga.edu

UGA Institute of Higher Education hosts Jilin University administration

Athens, Ga. – Thirty members of the senior administration of Jilin University, one of China’s top ten universities and its largest, recently completed a three week study of American colleges and universities with the UGA Institute of Higher Education.

Members of the Jilin delegation received insight into all facets of education management including research and development, external relations, budget and finance and continuing education taught by IHE faculty and several members of the UGA administration. They also met with their professional counterparts on campus to get a better understanding of the daily operation of the corresponding unit.

“UGA and IHE put a great deal of thought into each of the learning modules,” said Zhenwu Wu, head of the delegation and vice dean of the Jilin University Graduate School. “Members of our delegation were impressed by the experience and scholarship of those who presented and appreciated the high priority that UGA places on international exchange.”

While the delegates found some key differences in the way that universities are structured and managed in America, some found specific practices they planned to carry back with them. “It was interesting to see how much students are involved in the governance of the institution. Their prospective is highly valued,” said Wu. “I plan to put more emphasis on that in my role in the graduate school.”

"Having 30 senior administrators from Jilin University in Athens for three weeks has been both a privilege and a pleasure,” said Doug Toma, director of the program and associate professor in the IHE. “We have found that we have much more in common than we are different, learning from one another and enjoying both humorous and profound moments together as we have attempted to communicate across languages and cultures.

The Jilin University delegation also had the opportunity to get a taste of America outside the classroom. Off-campus excursions included trips to CNN, the Georgia Aquarium and a Braves baseball game in Atlanta. The participants also visited Washington, New York and Philadelphia with Toma.

"We are hopeful that we will have further opportunities to develop our partnership with Jilin University, including through future management training institutes at the Institute of Higher Education,” said Toma. “We hope to visit Changchun in September to conclude and present our evaluation of the program and to join their 60th anniversary celebration.”

The Institute of Higher Education, established in 1964, is noted for its multi-disciplinary approach to teaching, research and outreach. It has among the most accomplished faculties in the world devoted to the study of higher education policy and strategy at all levels; institutional, system, state, national and cross-national. The institute has conducted professional development throughout the 42 years since being founded for that purpose, presently hosting three regular programs: Faculty Development in Georgia, Governors Teaching Fellows and the Post-Doctoral Teaching Fellows. The institute is also active in training administrators and faculty from other countries, including extensive work in Croatia and recent efforts in Tunisia, Mexico and China.

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