Representatives led by Cheng Fangqin, deputy president of Shanxi University, paid a visit to the University of Minnesota Duluth (UMD) to negotiate academic cooperation, on Nov 3.

The university is a high-level institution located in the United States. With a history dating back 100 years, the university has evolved into a comprehensive institution with five campuses –– Crookston, Duluth, Morris, Rochester and Twin Cities. It offers a total of 370 programs for the 60,000 students at the university.

Cheng had a conversation with Karl Markgraf, director of the international program at UMD, on how to deepen cooperation on undergraduate programs. Cheng expressed her desire to increase the number of students from Shanxi University studying at UMD.

Both parties also agreed to launch a three-week program enabling students from Shanxi University to have a short stay at UMD during the vacation period.

Representatives led by Cheng Fangqin (left, middle), deputy president of Shanxi University, talk to Karl Markgraf, director of the international program at the University of Minnesota Duluth (right, middle), on how to deepen cooperation on undergraduate programs. [Photo/sxu.edu.cn]

Cheng also met with Marc S. Seigar, vice-dean of Swenson College of Science and Engineering, and Amy B. Hietapelto, dean of Labovitz School of Business and Economics. They made an agreement to have around 15 teachers from Shanxi University sent to UMD for a three-week stay.

During the stay, the visiting teachers will negotiate with teachers of relevant courses at UMD on curriculum design, with the aim of unifying the courses between the two universities.

Cheng negotiates with Marc S. Seigar (right, second from left), vice-dean of Swenson College of Science and Engineering, and Amy B. Hietapelto (right, third from left), dean of Labovitz School of Business and Economics, on curriculum design. [Photo/sxu.edu.cn]

Cheng also met with some Chinese scholars working at UMD and students from Shanxi University. Students discussed their academic performance and problems they had encountered at UMD.

Cheng meets with Chinese scholars working at the University of Minnesota Duluth, along with students from Shanxi University. [Photo/ sxu.edu.cn]