> Chinese, SFU faculty to review dual degree program
Chinese, SFU faculty to review dual degree program
Contact:
Stella Atkins, 778.782. 4288; stella@cs.sfu.ca
Vivian Chu (away until Monday), 778.782.7112; vhc3@cs.sfu.ca
Marianne Meadahl, PAMR, 778.782.4323
*Note: For media interviews with professor or students – please call to arrange in advance. See below for available times.
Stella Atkins, 778.782. 4288; stella@cs.sfu.ca
Vivian Chu (away until Monday), 778.782.7112; vhc3@cs.sfu.ca
Marianne Meadahl, PAMR, 778.782.4323
*Note: For media interviews with professor or students – please call to arrange in advance. See below for available times.
July 17, 2008
A joint program between Simon Fraser University and China’s Zhejiang University (ZU) will take a new turn this fall when a contingent of 36 students from China – nine of whom are here already – begin a two-year stint of classes with their counterparts at SFU.
But first, the dual degree program (DDP) in computing science will undergo a formal review by officials from both universities. A delegation of 10 faculty members from ZU will be at SFU’s Burnaby campus on July 21 and 22 to meet with professors here and discuss the program’s progress as well as future plans.
The undergraduate program was created in 2005 and has seen the first cohort of 10 students from SFU and 36 from Zhejiang University complete two years in China (most spent an initial year focusing on language studies at their home universities). The final two years will be taught at SFU. Upon graduation, students will receive degrees from both universities.
Computing science professor Stella Atkins, the first SFU faculty member to teach in the program in China, says the program so far has been highly successful, with more challenges for the Canadian students as they grapple with language as well as some math issues.
“There’s no question that this is a real experience of a lifetime for these young students,” says Atkins. “It has been a little tougher for the SFU students to get a good grasp of the language, and some have struggled a bit with the calculus, as the curriculum is different in China. But overall, and despite their young age (18) they have managed quite well.”
Those and other challenges are expected to be part of the discussion. Officials will also look at recruitment at SFU, and the burgeoning interest in China and how far they can expect to expand the program.
Ze-Nian Li, DDP director, says the program offers a “unique global experience” and is giving students a deeper understanding of languages, cultures and societies while preparing them for the competitive global job market.
Scheduled meetings include:
Interviews can be arranged with ZU professors, SFU professors (Stella Atkins and Anne Lavergne) as well as Chinese and Canadian DDP students.
But first, the dual degree program (DDP) in computing science will undergo a formal review by officials from both universities. A delegation of 10 faculty members from ZU will be at SFU’s Burnaby campus on July 21 and 22 to meet with professors here and discuss the program’s progress as well as future plans.
The undergraduate program was created in 2005 and has seen the first cohort of 10 students from SFU and 36 from Zhejiang University complete two years in China (most spent an initial year focusing on language studies at their home universities). The final two years will be taught at SFU. Upon graduation, students will receive degrees from both universities.
Computing science professor Stella Atkins, the first SFU faculty member to teach in the program in China, says the program so far has been highly successful, with more challenges for the Canadian students as they grapple with language as well as some math issues.
“There’s no question that this is a real experience of a lifetime for these young students,” says Atkins. “It has been a little tougher for the SFU students to get a good grasp of the language, and some have struggled a bit with the calculus, as the curriculum is different in China. But overall, and despite their young age (18) they have managed quite well.”
Those and other challenges are expected to be part of the discussion. Officials will also look at recruitment at SFU, and the burgeoning interest in China and how far they can expect to expand the program.
Ze-Nian Li, DDP director, says the program offers a “unique global experience” and is giving students a deeper understanding of languages, cultures and societies while preparing them for the competitive global job market.
Scheduled meetings include:
- ZU and SFU professors will discuss curriculum and program issues on Monday morning (July 21) from 9:30 - 12 noon in the IRMACS board room, ASB 10901. Further discussions will be held Monday afternoon from 1:45 – 4:30 at the Diamond Alumni Centre.
- ZU professors will meet with the nine Chinese students on Monday at 5 p.m. in room TASC 9204 (applied sciences building, southeast end of campus).
- On Tuesday (July 22) from 12:15 - 2 p.m., six of the 10 visiting ZU professors will meet with students from ZU and SFU at the same location (TASC 9204).
Interviews can be arranged with ZU professors, SFU professors (Stella Atkins and Anne Lavergne) as well as Chinese and Canadian DDP students.