Virginia Commonwealth University (VCU) from the US returned to UIC on 28 October to further explore opportunities of collaboration.

 Delegations from UIC and VCU discuss further collaboration

Distinguished guests from VCU included: Provost and Vice President (academic affairs) Dr Gail Hackett; Dean of the School of Education Dr Andrew Daire; Director of Asian-American Educational Studies Centre and Professor of Counselling and Special Education Dr Yaoying Xu and Recruitment Specialist in the Office of Strategic Communications and Enrolment Management Dr Jenna Lenhardt.

Welcoming the UIC delegation were Vice President (Academic Affairs) Prof Chen Zhi; Associate Vice President Prof George Wei; Dean of Division of Business and Management (DBM) Prof Stella Cho; Dean of Division of Science and Technology (DST) Prof Huang Huaxiong; Associate Dean of Division of Humanities and Social Sciences (DHSS) Prof Simon Zhao; Associate Dean of Division of Humanities and Social Sciences (DHSS) Dr Charles Lowe; Director of English Language Centre (ELC) Dr Viola Wong, Director of the International Development Office (IDO) Dr Katharina Yu; Associate Director of IDO and Acting Director of CDO Ms Mei Li. Both sides expressed strong interests in establishing a full range collaboration.

Prof Chen Zhi and Dr Gail Hackett exchange souvenirs

Before meeting senior management members at the Council Chamber, representatives from VCU had already had a fruitful discussion with Associate Dean of Division of DHSS Dr Charles Lowe and Director of ELC Dr Viola Wong about the possible internship programme at UIC. Both sides agreed that it would be a win-win situation where for example VCU students interested in getting international experience could join UIC as interns to gain teaching training in UIC's English Language Centre (ELC).

Editors: Samuel Burgess, Deen He, Lauren Richardson (MPRO)
(from IDO)