From February 23rd to February 26th, 2013, Professor and Director from the Center for East Asian Studies, Heidi Ross, Assistant Professor Adam Maltese and others from the School of Education at Indiana University (SE-IU) visited and held talks in our college. Dean and Professor Xu Xiaozhou, Director of the Department of Education, Wu Xueping, and Assistant Dean Kan Yue attended the meeting. The main purpose of the visit was to carry out three international research cooperation projects and exchange mutual views. In the morning of February 24th, both sides held talks in a warm and friendly atmosphere.
    The first meeting focused on STEM (science and technology engineering and mathematics) project, which is cross-cultural research focusing on student and faculty interest in STEM subjects. This study obtained Indiana University foundation support and is seeking follow-up funding from US national foundations. This project compares how undergraduate students and faculty members in China, the USA, and Australia became interested in STEM subjects, and, at the same time, how this interest can be sustained and evolved and how this influences students’ professional and career choices. To help the USA and Australia and other countries’ education organizations and institutions, the project will improve STEM curriculum and provide related strategic suggestions.
 

    In addition, both sides also discussed cooperation in e-course development and training projects for primary and secondary school principals. As a valued partner since the mutual comprehensive cooperation agreement was signed in November 2012, the School of Education at Zhejiang University and SE-IU have been continuously working on joint-training for doctoral students, the exchange of students and faculty members, the development of an English curriculum system, joint international conferences and forums, and course syllabus revisions. This in-depth cooperation will improve the overall international level of our college and play a positive role in our school’s development. At the Lantern Festival, Dean and Professor Xu Xiaozhou presented traditional Chinese gifts along with his sincere wishes to the SE-IU delegation. During their stay, the SE-IU delegation not only carried out effective academic cooperation, but also enjoyed the festival and Hangzhou culture.

                                                                                                          College of Education Zhejiang University
                                                                                                                           2012 February 25