SIUE Partners with AASCU and Changshu Institute of Technology for Chinese Undergraduate Program
Southern Illinois University Edwardsville has partnered with the American Association of State Colleges and Universities (AASCU) and the Changshu Institute of Technology to implement a dual degree program in mechatronics and robotics engineering for undergraduate Chinese students.
“Since 2019, we’ve been welcoming students through this program to complete the second two years of their bachelor’s degrees, and some students are even returning for graduate programs,” said Amy Nusser, lead immigration specialist in the SIUE Office of International Affairs. "They excel here at SIUE, and it has been wonderful to see them thrive academically and personally during their time here.”
The first cohort of seven Chinese students graduated in spring 2022. Fourteen students are currently on campus for the fall 2022 semester with a new cohort of 20 students transferring to SIUE in spring 2023.
AASCU hosted the “Sino-American CHEPD 1+2+1 Program Worker Bee Meeting” in Washington D.C. to bring together U.S. institutions and Chinese administrators to discuss the implementation of the program.
“I was able to lead a discussion at the meeting using case scenarios that I developed,” said Mary Weishaar, PhD, executive director of the Office of International Affairs at SIUE. “Using case scenarios allowed those in attendance to learn from one another. We want to help create best practice models and work through the challenges when developing partnerships in China.”
Photo: American Association of State Colleges and Universities participants in the Chinese Embassy.