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NIU, ELS partner to host Chinese delegates

June 6, 2012

More than 60 delegates from 32 Chinese universities visited the NIU campus Monday, June 4, to gather information regarding higher education for high-level Chinese dignitaries interested in learning more about NIU.

In collaboration with ELS Language Centers, NIU hosted the delegation, coordinated by the U.S. Embassy in Beijing and the China Education Association for International Exchange (CEAIE), which included representatives from Chinese universities, CEAIE and the Ministry of Education.

Wendi Raulie, director of the ELS Language Center in DeKalb, said hosting the dignitaries is important for helping globalize NIU.

“These guests all represent thousands of students at their universities in China,” Raulie said, “and of course bringing them here to NIU would be a wonderful way of globalizing more of NIU.”

NIU President John Peters smiles for photos with NIU’s visitors from China.

NIU President John Peters smiles for photos with NIU’s visitors from China.

There are currently 103 students from mainland China studying at NIU, with 73 percent being graduate students, but NIU President John Peters said that it is important to explore more educational opportunities with foreign colleges.

“NIU thrives on strengthening our connections around the world,” Peters said. “We’ve been working at it, but we would like to broaden and deepen our relationships with universities around the world and particularly in China.”

Promod Vohra, dean of the NIU College of Engineering and Engineering Technology, said this is an opportunity to further connections with Chinese universities.

“What I’m interested in right now is developing special programs that are customized to give students the kind of skills they need to excel in both the United States market and the Chinese market,” Vohra said.

NIU hosts 638 international students from 75 countries.