China Center News

Fall 1998

China's Vice Minister Wei Yu to Receive Honorary Doctor of Laws and Give Keynote Address

WeiyuDr. Wei Yu, Vice Minister of the Education Ministry of the People's Republic of China will receive an Honorary Doctor of Laws Degree at the Graduate School Commencement, 7:00pm at the Northrop Auditorium, December 7, 1998. She will also give a keynote address, "To Build a Lifelong Learning System Through Modern Distance Education", at the Humphrey Institute in the Cowles Auditorium at 3:00pm on the same day. The address will be followed by a reception at 4:00pm at the Humphrey Atrium. These events are open to the public; please contact the China Center at 624-1002 or visit its Website at http://www.chinacenter.umn.edu to receive more detailed information.

Dr. Wei received her bachelor's and master's degrees from Nanjing Institute of Engineering (recently renamed Southeast University), and her Ph.D. in electrical engineering from Aachen Polytechnic University in Germany. She has supervised over 50 graduate students and published over 300 papers in electronics. Her pioneering research on molecular electronics and biocomputing have provided a sound foundation for developing nanoelectronics and nanotechnology. In 1994, she was named an Academician of the Chinese Academy of Engineering — the highest honor bestowed to an engineering professional in China.

Dr. Wei's administrative positions have included: research institute director, dean of the graduate school, vice president, and president of the Nanjing Institute of Technology. She has contributed much effort to organizing professional societies, serving as board member, chairperson, and advisor of academic and professional societies. She was elected Vice Chairperson of the All-China Women's Federation and of the Chinese Higher Education Society in 1988. In 1993, Dr. Wei assumed her position as Vice Minister of the Ministry of Education which is responsible for China's K – 12 and higher education systems.

As a distinguished scholar and an eminent public servant, Vice Minister Wei Yu serves as an outstanding role model for the Chinese people and for international researchers and educators. Her visionary leadership in guiding Chinese higher education into the 21st century exemplifies the highest level of public service.
— Citation for Nomination

Vice Minister Wei has been a strong advocate of international partnership. She has served as an advisor and chairperson of several UNESCO commissions on education.

Regent Neel and President Yudof, on behalf of the Board of Regents and Faculties, will confer the Honorary Doctor of Laws degree to recognize her distinguished scholarship and eminent public service.

Director's Farewell Message

DavidVice Minister Wei Yu's honorary doctorate conferral is a joyous event for the University and for me personally. I first met Dr. Wei three years ago in Wisconsin when she led a delegation of four university (Peking, Tsinghua, Fudan and Shanghai Jiao Tong) presidents to visit the UW Madison campus. I had the privilege of representing President Hasselmo to present her the Regents' Distinguished International Service Award. Since that memorable event, I met her on four other occasions: President Hasselmo's delegation to China, Governor Carlson and President Yudof?s delegation to China, and the visits by Dean Ted Davis and Dean Bob Elde to the Education Ministry. I feel like I am an old friend of the Vice Minister and am most delighted to see her being recognized with the University's highest honor. I admire her for her outstanding scholarship, exemplary public service, and her embodiment of many traditional Chinese virtues.

It is also very gratifying for me to see that the China Center has been able to advance its mission of facilitating academic exchanges and research collaboration with Chinese institutions. Thanks to the active participation of the China Center Advisory Committee (CCAC) and the diligence of the China Center staff, we are able to assist many faculty members and college deans in furthering their China initiatives and to serve as a resource to Minnesota companies and government agencies. We have strengthened our alumni connections in China and have projected a very good image to Chinese institutions. President Yudof, central administrators, deans and faculty members have all shown a great deal of confidence in the China Center. Our new ISP Director, Gene Allen, is committed to giving his strong support to the China Center and its mission. The future of the China Center is bright and exciting.

In reviewing the China Center activities for the past five years 1994-1998, we have accomplished a great deal in the areas of academic exchanges, alumni networking, building friendship bridges, serving as resource to government/business, and outreach to the community. Below I am listing a few of the highlights; a more extensive list can be found on the China Center website:

  • Assist college initiatives: IT, CSOM, HHH, COAFES, CBS, CLA, Law, Medical, Crookston
  • Publish Building Bridges to highlight accomplishments of 240 distinguished Chinese Alumni
  • Assist UMAA in establishing official alumni chapters in Beijing, Xi'an, Tianjin and Taipei
  • Confer honors to outstanding alumni and international educators
  • Arrange three presidential delegation visits to China and Taiwan
  • Publish a Resource Directory of UM Faculty Linkages with China listing 280 faculty members connected with 160 Chinese institutions
  • Start summer English/Culture program with Taiwan universities
  • Help start a China residency program for an IT unit and host a short course for Chinese managers
  • Receive high level delegations from Chinese academies and ministries
  • Assist placement and orientation for all Chinese visiting scholars
  • Award faculty travel grants and organize exchanges of Chinese scholars/US students
  • Provide support to state and local agencies, and to Minnesota businesses
  • Sponsor joint programs with Minnesota community groups
  • Sponsor scholarly lectures by distinguished faculty and visitors and support cultural pro-grams for Chinese Students/Scholars.

It has indeed been a privilege for me to have had the opportunity of serving as Director of the China Center for these past five years. I have enjoyed working with many colleagues across the University system and the community at large. It has broadened my scope and experience beyond my own professional discipline.

It is with a sense of satisfaction and also with some sadness that I decided to step down from the directorship position as of December 15 this year. The reason for my resignation is because of my heavy commitment in research, teaching, and service activities at both the University and my professional societies. I leave the China Center with many cherished memories. I wish my successor well in her/his endeavors in carrying out the mission of the China Center.

— David Pui

Delegation Visits

In September, the China Center welcomed delegations from the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences (CASS), the Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS) and Jilin University.

Cas

Picture: Ma Dexiu, Yan Yixun and Liu Chuanzhi of the CAS delegation with David Pui.

A 5-member delegation from CASS led by Huang Haotao, Director General of Scientific Research Planning & Coordination Bureau, met with director David Pui and key faculty members at the Humphrey Institute to explore opportunities for strengthening cooperation and collaboration with the University.

Vice President of CAS, Yan Yixun, led a 12-member delegation including Ma Dexiu, Director-General, at the Bureau of Science & Technology, in the State Commission of Planning, and Liu Chuanzhi, CEO, Legend Group Corporation. They met with Vice President Christine Maziar, Dean Ted Davis, and Director Gene Allen at the University and various Minnesota companies to explore how to combine research with the developmental objectives of the company. The China Center and the association of Minnesota Chinese Professionals cohosted a seminar at which the members of the delegation discussed nurturing of innovation in the high-tech industry. Ma Dexiu, Yan Yixun and Liu Chuanzhi of the CAS delegation with David Pui.

The 4-member delegation from the Jilin University was led by President Liu Zhongshu. In 1979 when Jilin University hosted the first UM delegation to China, it became the first university in China to re-establish exchange relationships with the University of Minnesota. The delegation met with faculty members from CSOM, CLA, HHH and the Medical School. They explored ways to improve the on-going exchange and cooperation between our two universities.

Cultural Celebration

On September 20, the China Center sponsored an event called "Eat, Drink, Dance, Play-A Celebration of Chinese Culture" at the University Arboretum. About 400 Chinese students, scholars, their families, and their American friends attended the event. They enjoyed traditional Chinese games, performance of traditional Chinese dance and music, delicious food and refreshments. The overwhelming success of this well-attended event was due to the hard work of our cosponsors including the US-China People's Friendship Association, the Friendship Association of Chinese Students and Scholars and the Taiwan Student Alliance. Thanks to all!

CSOM and Lingnan College Discuss Partnership

On July 25, the Carlson School of Management (CSOM) sent a delegation led by Dean David Kidwell and Professor Mahmood Zaidi to visit Lingnan College of Zhongshan University. During this visit, CSOM Dean and the President of Lingnan College signed the Memorandum of Understanding. The purpose of the Memorandum of Understanding is to begin the development phase of cooperation in the areas of joint executive MBA program degree and joint executive education programs described in the Statement of Cooperation of May 9, 1998, between CSOM and Lingnan College. While in Guangzhou, the delegation also met with representatives of several American companies to better understand what types of education and training the company executives would like to see their employees receive.

Under the leadership of Dean Kidwell, CSOM?s faculty have made great efforts to strengthen CSOM?s connections with Chinese business and academic institutes. The result of these efforts has been an enthusiastic expression of interest on the part of some of the best business schools in China to establish meaningful partnerships with the CSOM.

Travel Grants Available

The China Center provides grants to support work-related travel of faculty to the People?s Republic of China, Hong Kong and Taiwan. Partial travel grants toward international airfare are offered to tenured and tenured-track faculty and equivalent level professional/academic staff with official invitation for research, lecturing or teaching. Conference travel is considered for funding when it is combined with lecturing or collaborative research activities. The deadline for applications is February 15 for travel in April, May and June and May 15 for travel in July, August and September. Contact the China Center for information and application materials, or visit http://www.isp.acad.umn. edu/isp/funding/travelinfo.html. Recipients of Fall 1998 travel grant awards are listed below.

Fall 1998

Garth Rockcastle (Architecture)

Duanqin Pei (Pharmacology)

Russell Leigh Moses (Institute of International Studies)

Deborah Levison (Humphrey Institute of Public Affairs)

Leon Satkowski (Architecture)

Xiaoyang Zhu (Chemistry)