China opened the red curtain to the world for the Olympics and has increased its international visibility as its leaders work with other countries, including the U.S., to battle the global economic downturn.’
During 12 trips to the People’s Republic, the UH Asian American Studies Center’s China Study Abroad program has taken almost 600 students and faculty to live and learn in the tight-lipped communist country.
Asian American studies professor Yali Zou is the program’s founder and director.
She said global education enables people to become more knowledgeable and competitive.’
As the U.S. and China work together toward building a stronger economic partnership, Zou said it is important to learn more about Chinese culture and history, as well as its environment of economic development.
‘We’ve built a strong partnership and both countries will play a strong role in the economic recovery process,’ she said. ‘(The study abroad program) is a good opportunity for our students to learn how to develop and create a recovery. This is the best time to go out and learn how to help the world.’
Economics senior Michael Prather went on the China Study Abroad program in 2008. He said it was the best experience of his life.
‘We spent a month in China and it was clear that Dr. Zou was working very hard to make sure we were able to enjoy every aspect of it,’ Prather said. ‘You can read about China’s growth and development, but nothing matches experiencing it for yourself.’
‘Americans generally view China as a Third World country, but there is nothing Third World about the Shanghai skyline.’
Despite the program’s long history of successful trips, Zou said there have been fewer applicants this year than in past years. Although 37 students initially express interest in this summer’s program, Zou said nearly all of them say they are unable to afford the trip.
‘This year, I understand that the financial and economic crisis has impacted our students’ ability to go abroad for studies so the center created ten scholarships to help them,’ Zou said. ‘My hope is that every student gets to have an opportunity to go abroad and interact with different cultures and (people of) different backgrounds to see how we communicate globally and how to work in a harmonious way to build a more prosperous world.’
In addition to the cultural experience they’ll receive, students are encouraged to take the courses while they are abroad.
‘ ‘We offer undergraduate and graduate courses through the program so that people can take six credit hours for a one month study,’ Zou said.
He said all students are welcome and encouraged to participate in the program.
‘Asian American Studies is an interdisciplinary program, so we encourage students from all across the campus to join to China Study Abroad program,’ Zou said. ‘The students who have done the programs have come from education, business, humanities, technology (and) natural sciences. Through these programs all these students have really enlarged their knowledge base of diversity, human beings and knowledge of another culture.’
Prather said students should experience at least one study abroad program.
‘UH is a commuter campus and there’s not as much of an opportunity to get to know your fellow schoolmates here,’ she said. ‘Everyone on the trip became friends and it was such a great opportunity not just to get to know another country and culture, but each other.’
