MUW seeks to internationalize campus through partnerships in China
COLUMBUS, Miss.- Mississippi University for Women is reaching across the globe in an effort to create international opportunities for its
students, faculty and staff.
Dr. Sandra Jordan, MUW provost and vice president for academic affairs, recently traveled to China to locate partner institutions to create various opportunities including articulation agreements, joint and dual degree programs, faculty teaching exchanges, faculty research collaborations, international professional development and summer enrichment programs.
“MUW’s president and faculty understand that we live in a
pluralistic nation and that our graduates will be working and living
with diverse people. Assuming that our curriculum and educational aims include preparing students intellectually and practically for the world they will live in, then it is important for our students to understand
people who are different from themselves. That is why we desire to have a diverse student body and faculty-racially, culturally and with regard to gender and age,” she said.
Dr. Claudia Limbert, MUW president, added, “For some time, MUW has made a practice of reaching out across the world to students of other countries, seeking to bring them here to our wonderful university. Now we want to set up formal agreements with China that will benefit both MUW and the participating universities. Because the world is indeed flat nowadays, it is also important to get our own students out and about, allowing them to travel and to learn from others in China. What they learn there will be extremely valuable to the companies and
organizations that they join after graduation.”
MUW currently enrolls international students from Trinidad, Zambia,
China, Vietnam, Kenya, Belarus, Venezuela, Cameroon, India, Nigeria, Japan, Russia, Germany and Canada.
Jordan said, “Students in China and other countries are attracted to
our reputation for excellence (as measured by our U.S.News & World
Report rankings and other indicators). They appreciate the fact that we are located in a smaller town, and they are aware that we offer excellent educational opportunities at an affordable price.
“For the students who are U.S. citizens, having international
students on campus provide incredible insights into different cultures
than our own. Classroom discussions are enriched and friendships across national boundaries are formed. Additionally, since our enrollment is not at full capacity, international students coming to MUW to live and study help to keep tuition and campus living costs low for all our college students,” Jordan said.
Michael Cheung, who accompanied Dr. Jordan to visit the China Women’s University in Beijing, currently is a senior business major at MUW.
A Hong Kong native, Cheung attended college on the coast and later
transferred to MUW after attending McDevitt Scholars’ Day.
“I live in a beautiful town. This school is not too big. I fit into
The W environment better,” he said.
According to Dr. Jordan, the students she met in China were eager to
understand American culture and meet U.S. students.
“They speak English, follow world news, watch U.S. programs on
television, and they desire to learn more about our history, culture,
political structure and society. I was impressed by the fact that they
are very sophisticated in their understanding of how important it will
be to their futures to be multi-lingual and to integrate global
perspectives into their education.”
About two weeks ago, Winner Wu from Beijing visited MUW’s campus. Wu is serving as MUW’s agent in China to attract students.
“The weather is very good. I like the campus. It is beautiful and the
facilities are modern.”
Wu said the students from China would be interested in MUW’s
business, education, culinary and art programs.
Jordan said MUW expects to receive students from its new partner
institutions in China as early as next August.
