Introduction to the China Higher Education International Forum

As an outreach endeavor, the China Higher Education International Forum is one of the highlights at the ICED 2008 Conference in Utah. The China Forum is bringing scholars and high-level administrators from top universities in the People’s Republic of China (PRC) to the ICED conference community. The purpose of the China Forum is twofold: 1) to provide international scholars attending the ICED conference an opportunity to learn more about the fast-changing higher education system in the PRC; and 2) to provide the visiting Chinese scholars and administrators an opportunity to learn from other international experts on teaching-and-learning and educational development.

Eight Chinese universities are sending representatives to the China Forum as part of the ICED Conference. These include both key national universities (211 Project and 985 Project Universities) and regional universities. These universities are situated in various geographical locations in PRC.

The China Forum will present two sessions at the ICED Conference on Friday morning which will provide a snapshot of Chinese higher education, now the largest in the world with a student population of 22 million. This will also provide interested scholars the time and space to interact face-to-face and exchange ideas with the Chinese administrators and scholars.

Through this Forum, ICED is demonstrating more inclusivity by encouraging strong participation from less represented countries and regions, expanding its influence to a larger international community, and stimulating more scholarly exchange, dialogue and learning from a variety of perspectives.

For more information, contact Kang Li, Coordinator of the China Higher Education International Forum: likang1@msu.edu

China Forum on-site assistant: Na (Anna) Zhang, Brigham Young University and Beijing Normal University