Officials from the University Research Corridor—the University of Michigan, Michigan State University and Wayne State University—today wrap up two weeks of high-level exchanges with their counterparts from 18 top Chinese universities.

“Universities around the world are a critical source of the ideas and expertise that are central to economic growth,” said U-M President Mary Sue Coleman. “Stronger relationships between China’s and Michigan’s universities will ensure that our students and scholars are better prepared to cooperate on the emerging opportunities that are shaping the global marketplace.”

The meetings offered a rare opportunity to lay the groundwork for future partnerships. While the URC presidents regularly work to accelerate research and tech transfer efforts, China has pursued a concerted plan to expand higher education to energize its economy, more than quadrupling the number of college graduates over the past decade..

During the Michigan-China Leadership Forum, URC officials discussed ways they can work together to advance trade, innovation and economic growth and other exchanges for faculty and students. The URC also connected the delegation with top state and local officials and economic development officials. Research universities are major economic engines and job creators in both nations.

“The transformation of higher education in China is well underway,” said MSU President Lou Anna Simon. “Building upon the collaborative relationships we’ve developed with Chinese institutions over the years will be important for U.S. higher education and U.S. business as we work to co-create sustainable solutions to current and future global challenges.”

Wayne State University President Irvin D. Reid, who met with the delegation in Detroit, added, “Michigan can learn from China’s recent experience in which universities have been vitally important for generating research and knowledge contributing to regional and national economic growth. China’s universities and its cultural assets offer great opportunities for U.S. scholars.”

Nationwide, 67,723 Chinese students were enrolled in U.S. universities in 2006-07, 8.2 percent more than the year before, and second highest of any foreign country behind India.

Michigan’s three research universities typically host about 69 percent of the international students enrolled at Michigan universities, attracting more than 11,700 international students last fall.

Skilled immigrants are major job and wealth creators: more than 33 percent of Michigan high tech startup companies were started by foreign-born founders between 1995 and 2005 and most of those immigrants were lured to the state by Michigan’s research universities, according to a recent Duke University study.

Twenty-five members of the Chinese delegation, including university presidents, university council chairs, and officials of the Ministry of Education and National Academy of Education Administration, visited all three URC universities and the state Capitol as well as state and local officials and economic development experts.

“The forum has built bridges that will help our state benefit from access to the vast Chinese higher education system,” said Constance Cook, the U-M associate vice provost for academic affairs who organized the 2008 exchange and a similar forum at the University in 2006. “These exchanges help us build our connections with the fastest growing economy in the world.”

The Chinese delegation included:

• Dexiu Ma, chairwoman of the University Council, Shanghai Jiao Tong University and leader of the delegation
• East China Normal University President Lizhong Yu.
• Deyong Jia, deputy director-general of the Department of National Universities, Ministry of Education.
• Dewen Chen, chairman of the University Council, Lanzhou University.
• Fudan University Vice President Xiaoman Chen.
• Zhiqiang Li, vice chairman of the University Council, Sichuan University.
• Keping Ou, chairman of the University Council, Chongqing University.
• Nanjing University Vice President Yi Pan.
• Jianguo Wang, chairman of the University Council, Beijing Jiao Tong University.
• Yingjun Wang, chairwoman of the University Council, South China University of Technology.
• Hui Xu, vice chairman of the University Council, Central South University.
• Daliang Zhang, chairman of the University Council, Jiangnan University.
• Dexiang Zhang, chairman of the University Council, Dalian University of Technology.
• China Agricultural University Vice President Dongjun Zhang.
• Tsinghua University Vice President Fengchang Zhang.
• Zhejiang University Vice President Tuqiao Zhang.
• Jilin University Vice President Ji Zhao.
• Southeast University Vice President Jiamao Zheng.
• Hunan University President Zhihua Zhong.
• Pengfei Gao, director of the Division of Planning, Department of Culture and Education.
• Yiqun Zhang, vice president, National Academy of Education Administration
• Ximeng Tong, project officer, National Academy of Education Administration.

“Now we are talking about Michigan the way we once talked about Harvard and Yale,” a Chinese official said after the 2006 forum, referencing the growing recognition of the URC universities among China’s rapidly growing higher education system.

The forum was designed to enhance Michigan’s position in the global higher education network. Organizers also say they strengthened Michigan’s ties with a new generation of higher education leadership in the world’s largest market, providing the means for the URC to give its faculty and students greater access to China’s academic and business communities.

Other topics discussed included how to better contribute to their regions and communities, how to expand collaborations with industry and other external partners as well as such topics as research, strategic planning and governance, educating students and hiring, developing and evaluating faculty.

The universities formed the URC alliance to transform, strengthen and diversify the state’s economy. The universities are working together to leverage their collective assets and encourage collaboration with business, government and communities to help accelerate economic growth.

U-M Contact: Joe Serwach

Phone: (734) 647-1844

Michigan State Contact: Kent Cassella

Phone: (517) 355-2281

Wayne State Contact: Francine Wunder

Phone: (313) 577-5699

Related Links:

• More on the forum
• University Research Corridor