Chinese students get ""American college experience"" at OSU

Wednesday, July 20, 2011

Sixty students from China are on the Oklahoma State University campus in Stillwater for the next three weeks as part of their university’s first study abroad “engineering excellence” project.

The sophomores and juniors from Southwest Jiaotong University (SWJTU) in Chengdu, China, will get an American college experience by studying American culture, engineering, and English as well as participating in research and outreach seminars.

The students, many of whom are honors students from the university’s engineering school, Mao Yisheng College, are attending an intensive three-week engineering class instructed by OSU Regents Professor Gary Foutch. They will also develop their leadership skills, help with a Habitat for Humanity project, and receive career development coaching, which will include creating a curriculum vitae and a cover letter in English.

OSU President Burns Hargis visited SWJTU last month to help commemorate its 115th anniversary. The comprehensive national research university places special emphasis on transportation and civil engineering.

OSU signed a Memorandum of Understanding with SWJTU in 2007 and started its first reciprocal exchange program with a Chinese university. A joint degree (2+2) program was added in 2009. This fall, SWJTU will send one of their language department's Chinese instructors to Stillwater in an effort to enhance OSU's Chinese language program.

The current summer program with SWJTU is a joint effort between the College of Engineering, Architecture and Technology, the Office of International Students and Scholars, the Vice President for Student Affairs Office, and International Education and Outreach.

For more information, contact Vivian Wang, OSU's manager of Chinese development, at vivian.wang@okstate.edu