Shanghai Normal University Delegation to Visit UW in Exchange Tour

Since early 2000, the University of Wyoming and Shanghai Normal University (SHNU), a leading university in the People’s Republic of China, have had a close student affairs and academic working relationship.

This week, UW Student Affairs with the Associated Students of UW (ASUW) will host a 10-member delegation with students, faculty and staff from across the university meeting with the delegation, including UW President Laurie Nichols and Provost Kate Miller.

The SHNU delegation will meet Nichols and Miller Thursday, Sept. 22, in the Old Main boardroom.

The focus of the visit is to exchange ideas on student learning and success, says Sara Axelson, UW Student Affairs vice president.

“SHNU Student Affairs colleagues have interned at UW; delegations from SHNU have visited the UW campus; and delegations of UW students, administrators, faculty and staff have visited SHNU,” Axelson says. “The ongoing relationship has cultivated rich dialogue to better understand student services and student government at both universities.”

In 2003, a cooperative education programs agreement was first signed, and since then, UW and the Chinese university have shared resources, with UW students and faculty visiting, and students and faculty from the Chinese institution coming to Wyoming in exchange programs.

“UW has enjoyed a wonderful working partnership with SHNU for more than 15 years,” she says. “The visit this week will continue to offer educational exchanges and an opportunity for UW students and employees to meet with the delegation.”

UW currently has a memorandum of agreement in Student Affairs with SHNU and a “4+1” academic program in place in which SHNU students come to UW for a year to earn a second bachelor’s degree after they finish four years at their home university. The program began in 2009, and 30 students have participated in the program. Some of the students have continued at UW as graduate students, Axelson says.

UW has a scholarship for short-term study at Shanghai Normal University. The scholarship allows two UW students in biology and chemistry to participate in summer research at SHNU.

“SHNU pays all expenses to our students while they are in Shanghai,” Axelson says. “This is the fourth year of the program, and we have had seven students participate so far.”

During the past several years with the student affairs and academic agreement in place, both colleges have had mutual visits -- from professors to department heads and deans -- with many UW professors presenting research seminars in Shanghai.

Visiting this week from SHNU are: Weihua Ge, Shanghai Normal University vice president of student affairs; Xianghong Zhang, deputy director of International Affairs Office; Li’an Zhong, vice dean, College of Information, Mechanical and Electrical Engineering; Qing Xie, College of Life and Environmental Sciences vice dean; Rujing Wei, College of Tourism vice dean; Huijun Zhu, Student Affairs chief director; Xinyuan Fu, Youth League Committee deputy secretary; Pengcheng Wan, Foreign Languages College student; Liu Yang, Business College student; and Yan Zhang, College of Education student.

The contingent will meet with UW administrators, deans, department heads, program directors, professors and ASUW leaders. Some also will shadow UW students in a classroom setting.

SHNU representatives are scheduled to meet with Wyoming Gov. Matt Mead Wednesday, Sept. 21, in Cheyenne. The Shanghai group then will tour the National Center for Atmospheric Research-Wyoming Supercomputing Center, also in Cheyenne.

Also scheduled for the group is a hike and picnic in the Snowy Range, a tour of the UW campus, meetings with UW student leaders, a planetarium show and a UW Cowgirls volleyball match against San Jose State.

This week’s visit comes on the heels of eight ASUW student leaders’ trip last March to SHNU and Shanghai University as part of a leadership exchange program.