By Fawn Wang
?
As a native of China and someone closely involved in Yale's
efforts to foster excellent relations with China, I am gratified at
the expansiveness - and warmth - of the University's support for
Chinese students and scholars.?This commitment is not
surprising for a University whose cordial relationship with China
and the Chinese people is centuries old.?Yale University is
the alma mater of Yung Wing, the first Chinese student to graduate
from an American university.?Since China opened her doors to
the world, Yale University has further contributed to the country's
progress, helping to educate thousands of influential and capable
leaders in the fields of education, management, economics, and the
judicial system in China and who are making great contributions to
their native country.
In 2001, Yale University celebrated its own 300th anniversary.
Yale President Richard C. Levin visited China that year and met
with Chinese President Jiang Zemin at Zhongnanhai. Upon returning
to Yale, President Levin was so enthusiastic about partnerships
with China that he devoted his address at the Yale College
graduation to the subject. Foreseeing future developments, he
highlighted the importance of China to Yale's goal of becoming a
university with a global scope. Yale University continues its
efforts to facilitate China's and its own development through joint
academic, business, and research collaborations. In the past year,
President Levin visited China three times, gauging the needs of the
country and meeting with government officials, business and
academic leaders.
Currently, Yale has more than sixty academic collaborations and
study sites across China. No other American university has so many
collaborations at so high a level, and across so broad an area of
subjects. This year, responding to China's fast-paced economic and
social development, the University hosted three leadership training
programs: one for university presidents, one for government leaders
and one for business leaders. President Levin himself, along
with Vice President Linda Lorimer and many other senior
administrators, gave presentations.
For its international graduate students from China and other
nations, Yale University offers an exceedingly generous financial
aid package. In addition to free tuition and health care, the
university provides an annual living allowance of at least
US$18,000 (excluding summer stipend support). Yale works hard to
accommodate the needs of its international students outside the
classroom and lab, including helping them with housing needs.
Yale's Office of International Students and Scholars is a most
helpful resource for all of Yale's international students. [Vice
President Lorimer, who is in charge of Yale's Office of
International Affairs, also has responsibility to help support
Yale's connections with China and Chinese students.] Studying
abroad presents challenges, and sometimes an individual student or
a group of international students may express a complaint or a
concern about their academic or living environment. Yale takes such
expressions seriously and works diligently to resolve them as soon
as possible, underscoring Yale's goal to have all students thrive
in their studies and take full advantage of the many opportunities
offered by Yale.
In addition to supporting international students while they are
at Yale, the University has worked hard since the terrorist attacks
on the United States in September 2001 to help its students
regarding visas. President Levin and his Yale colleagues have made
it a priority to ensure that international students who wish to
study in the United States do not have to experience unnecessary
delays in obtaining visas. This effort has led to significant
improvement in the visa process for students.
I recently read an article written by Gao Zhikai, a Chinese
student studying abroad who graduated from Yale.?His positive
reflections of Yale and the United States resonated strongly with
me and I urge you to read his insights. I have studied, worked, and
lived in the United States for many years now.?I, too, have
had my share of difficulties to overcome. I believe Yung Wing
provided us with an excellent model to emulate.?He served as a
bridge between two cultures, receiving an education in the United
States and educating his colleagues about China.
Today, Yale hosts 600 students and scholars from China. This
great number of Chinese reflects the wonderful educational
opportunities offered by Yale, and the welcoming environment that
Yale has created for its international students, students who offer
a valuable perspective to their fellow members of the Yale
community as they pursue their studies and research.
(The author is an assistant secretary of Yale
University)
(China.org.cn November 14, 2005)