International Faculty


Intl. Students Division Meets with the IFC to Discuss Learning and Teaching Opporunities at PKU

2016-06-20 10:55:38


On June 10, 2016, representatives from the International Students Division met with some of PKU’s IFC (International Faculty Club) members to discuss the learning and teaching opportunities available within the many short-term programs run by the ISD.
 
\
 
The faculty members, representing a number of different nationalities and a diverse range of academic fields, had the opportunity to hear about some of PKU’s short-term programs aimed at international students, which range from two- and four- week summer schools to year-long cooperative programs with some of PKU’s partner universities all over the world.
 
\
 
Of particular interest to some faculty members is the new ‘Dialogue with Experts’ program, which allows them to attend lectures on various topics, delivered by experts in the field. Others may be interested in teaching courses as part of programs such as ‘On the Road to China’, a semester-long, English-taught program which aims to introduce students to Chinese society, culture and economics, not only through taught lectures but also through first-hand experience of China, and particularly of Beijing’s Zhongguancun district (known to some as ‘the Silicon Valley of China’). Students can choose courses with an international perspective or with a Chinese focus, giving them a unique outlook on their area of interest.
 
\
 
Other programs organised by the International Students Division are the well-established summer school programs: Summer School International; Chinese Language Summer School; and the LSE-PKU Summer School. These programs, taking place during July and August, bring together hundreds of students from all corners of the world to experience life at PKU, with a huge range of courses being offered by PKU faculty members and visiting professors. These summer programs offer further opportunities for international faculty members to teach courses and share their experiences of China with visiting students, many of whom will be experiencing Beijing for the first time.

\
 
Via visiting faculty members PKU is also able to build partnerships with other leading universities, allowing cooperative programs in which exchange students can spend time at PKU but some or all of the course content may still be controlled by the home university. These partnerships can be an important means of cultural exchange and dialogue between not only the two universities, but also their countries.
 
On a more local level, by engaging with faculty from a range of departments the International Students’ Division is creating links between different groups of people within the PKU community, allowing people to share their experiences and learn from others. For example, international and visiting students might learn a lot from international faculty - and vice versa.
 
By engaging faculty members and presenting them with information about the programs currently offered, the International Students’ Division can facilitate this type of communication and allow faculty to make the most of the many opportunities available to them during their time at Peking University.

Written by: Claire H. Evans