Professor Dong Qiang, Dean of Yenching Academy of Peking University, visited Duke Kunshan University (DKU) in Jiangsu Province and New York University Shanghai (NYU Shanghai).
On July 21, Dean Dong met with Dr. Scott MacEachern, DKU’s Vice Chancellor of Academic Affairs, and Dr. Paul Stanley, DKU’s Associate Dean of Undergraduate Studies.
During their meeting, Dr. MacEachern briefly introduced DKU, its mission, development, and future plans. In a similar fashion, Prof. Dong outlined YCA’s latest development. They touched on topics of China Studies and the significance, difficulties, and challenges of international education. The two sides saw many commonalities between DKU and YCA: Both institutions create a diverse community culture and are dedicated to fostering world citizens who understand China and are willing to propel in-depth conversations and meaningful exchanges between peoples. It is worth noting that DKU and YCA take an interdisciplinary approach to academic research and innovation, facilitating their students to address challenges in our fast-paced and dynamic world for a better future.
After the meeting, Wang Wei, Director of the Office of International Affairs, DKU, led a campus tour of the university’s new campus, library, and canteen.
On July 24, Dean Dong met with Tong Shijun, Chancellor of NYU Shanghai, Jeffrey S. Lehman, Vice Chancellor of NYU Shanghai, Associate Vice Chancellor Ding Shuzhe, and Jiang Hua, Director of University Communications.
Prof. Dong was warmly welcomed by the NYU Shanghai leaders, who briefed him on the university’s latest development plans. During their discussions, both sides engaged in an open conversation about issues of shared interests. Both institutions utilize English as their primary language of instruction, enabling their students, Chinese and international, to forge strong intercultural communication capabilities. Their multicultural environments further nurture inspiration and growth among students. Both YCA Scholars and NYU Shanghai students have the unique opportunity to experience firsthand the fastest-growing cities in China, allowing them to grasp the significance of core cities or urban centres across cultures and see for themselves the deepening connections between China and the rest of the world. Ultimately, both institutions aim to build an inspiring, transformative, and enriching learning experience for their students, who, in turn, make meaningful contributions to the institutions.
Prof. Dong extended his congratulations to the milestone 10th anniversary of NYU Shanghai. This May, Prof. Tong Shijun delivered a lecture on Bertrand Russell and his works at YCA. The lecture was warmly received by our YCA Scholars. Prof. Lehman is an old friend of Peking University and, like Prof. Dong, once studied and taught in France. NYU Shanghai and YCA have established close ties over the years, with NYU Shanghai graduates enrolling in our China Studies program and several YCA faculty paying courtesy visits to NYU Shanghai.
