New York City – State University of New York
Chancellor John R. Ryan and Nanjing
University Chancellor Hong Yinxing signed a mutual agreement to formalize their
educational relationship in an effort to advance cooperation between the
two universities and to enhance higher education in China and the United States.
The first phase of the agreement
establishes a pilot program that is set for initial launch in August,
when NJU and the State University of New York at Stony Brook will introduce
newly admitted students at NJU to a unique SUNY-NJU dual diploma program,
involving two years of study at NJU and two years of study at Stony Brook University.
Students who participate in the program will graduate with two degrees--with
either a Bachelor of Science in Biology or a Bachelor of Engineering in
Engineering Science.
Chancellor Ryan said, “We greatly
appreciate the leadership of NJU Chancellor Hong Yinxing, NJU President Chen
Jun and the efforts of their staffs in collaborating on this important
agreement. Having a dual-diploma program in China represents a fantastic opportunity for SUNY and NJU students
and faculty. The SUNY-NJU agreement will also further strengthen cultural
and economic relationships between SUNY and NJU.”
New York state and Jiangsu province, home of NJU, have had a long-standing very
productive sister state relationship.
In approving the agreement,
NJU Chancellor Hong stressed that internationalization is an important part of
the curriculum reform effort underway at Nanjing University. He noted, "We believe our emerging
relationship with SUNY represents a very positive step in building
cross-cultural understanding between the young people of our two
countries. Moreover, it also provides a solid foundation for
collaborative research and other forms of mutually beneficial academic
cooperation."
Provost Palm said, “Academic
rigor is the foundation of the dual-diploma agreement between SUNY and
NJU. In addition to the educational benefits of the dual-diploma program,
the SUNY-NJU agreement will promote further understanding of the culture,
history and language of each country because students spend two years on each
campus.”
“The globalization of
business, economics, science, and a whole range of disciplines, means
that this generation of students must think globally," said Stony Brook
President Shirley Strum Kenny. "This partnership between Stony Brook and Nanjing University
will prepare students from both campuses for tomorrow's world and expand the
footprint of SUNY and Stony Brook on the international landscape."
Stony Brook University Provost Robert McGrath said, “We at Stony Brook are
enormously enthusiastic about our new agreement with Nanjing University,
one of the most prestigious universities in China. The agreement spells out first steps of a
larger partnership. It calls for development of joint degree programs in
Materials Science and in Biology that will incorporate the best aspects of
Chinese and American curricula. These programs will be ready to go
already this summer. During the delegation's visit to Stony Brook we
also did initial planning for a center of activities in Nanjing University
where SUNY students and faculty will interact with their Nanjing counterparts
in studies on Chinese language and culture and other topics about our
contemporary world. We also found areas of research such as nanoscience
where we have much to gain by building collaborations, and we will be laying
definite plans over the next months.”
The two institutions of
higher education also agree that there should be a SUNY presence at Nanjing’s
international campus, and SUNY-NJU arrangements should foster a similar NJU
student and faculty presence at SUNY campuses. In addition, they agree that a
goal of the initiative should be development of a curriculum unique to the
SUNY-NJU initiative and the creation of a center for cooperative study,
research and social activities.
As an alternative to the
four-year dual degree program, students may elect to enter one of Stony Brook’s
combined bachelor/master five-year programs. NJU will identify 30
students from this group for participation in the program. The students will
then be provisionally admitted by Stony Brook University, provided that their
grade point average is at least 3.0, they have scored at least 550 on the Test
of English as a Foreign Language and completed all curricula requirements of
the pilot program. Under such circumstances, Stony Brook University
will formally admit them for study in the United
States.
In addition, the two
universities will work with their respective governments to assist the students
and faculty in this pilot program in obtaining necessary visas. Stony Brook University
will provide residence hall space for the students and a SUNY-NJU
Implementation Working Group will oversee operation of the SUNY-NJU initiative,
first by providing a forum for addressing and resolving issues that may arise
in connection with it.
As part of the agreement
signed today, SUNY faculty identified by Stony Brook will offer four SUNY
General Education courses at NJU, and NJU will pay transportation and living
costs for Stony Brook University faculty to do so. NJU may send faculty members
associated with this pilot program to Stony Brook University as well. Such faculty will participate in
instructional activities at Stony Brook University.
After six months, SUNY and
NJU will evaluate the program and enter into additional agreements, if
necessary, to advance the relationship. Discussions concerning these
additional aspects and terms of the program will continue in good faith during
the pilot phase via the SUNY-NJU Implementation Working Group. At such
time as any additional agreement is entered into, Nanjing will
provide SUNY with assurances that all necessary Chinese government approvals
have been received or are in process of being granted.
Stony Brook, on behalf of
SUNY and its students, will coordinate SUNY study abroad programs for students
who wish to study at NJU, and NJU University will facilitate this process.
There are more than 30
programs between SUNY campuses and universities in Turkey, Russia, Mexico, Poland, and
now China, in which international and U.S. students can spend a portion of their program at a
SUNY campus and a portion at an international partner, receiving two diplomas
upon completion of the program.
Signing the agreement today are:
Chancellors Ryan and Yinxing, SUNY Provost Risa I. Palm, Nanjing University
President Chen Jun, Stony Brook University President Shirley Strum Kenny, Nanjing
University Vice President Zhang Rong, and Stony Brook University Provost Robert
McGrath.
The State University of New
York is the largest comprehensive university system in the United States,
educating more than 417,000 students in 7,669 degree and certificate programs
on 64 campuses.
