ALL PROGRAMS
Previously listed programs:
Additional programs ESEC operates or has participated in:
In the 1990's many Chinese enterprises and government agencies
found the need to acquire the management practices used in developed
countries. This was especially true among the graduates of ESEC
English and Business programs. These students had gained the book
knowledge and had explored theories of the "Market Economy." The
time had come for practical "hands-on" experience in the environment
where such theories are practiced. ESEC began the Overseas Training
Program (OTP) to facilitate a practical learning experience. Since
the program's inception, ESEC has received more than fifty Chinese
delegations to the United States as part of the OTP.
This unique character of OTP results from placing Chinese
trainees in the actual work environment. The trainees participate in
daily operations alongside their American counterparts. This
cross-cultural experience can be life changing for the trainees as
they have the opportunity to observe first hand how textbook
theories become effective practice. Presently, the China
Petro-Chemical Company and the China bureau for Technical
Supervision send their executives and officials to participate in
the Overseas Training Program. Not only are these participants
trainees, they area also ambassadors for Sino-American trade
relationships. Following their overseas experience, they return to
their work in China where many have advanced quickly in their
career.
The first ESEC medical education project was a collaborative
effort with the Dr. Samuel Chang Foundation. In 1987, ESEC sponsored
a Sino-American Symposium on Smoking and Cancer. This symposium
brought together the most highly respected and acclaimed oncologists
from the US and China. Chinese research revealed that 90% of all
lung cancer cases treated were a result of smoking. It is predicted
that in china in the 21st century, 900,000 people will die of
lung cancer annually. It is also expected that 1.2 million people
will die of smoking-related diseases. Dr. Robert McKenna, the
chairman of the American Cancer Society, stated in his keynote
address to the symposium that American research shows the maximum
occurrence of lung cancer correlates to the peak periods of
cigarette consumption within a 20-year time-lapse.
Dr. McKenna further stated that the US Government expenditure for
the treatment of smoking-related cancer far exceeds the tax revenues
collected on tobacco products. This was a stringent warning of the
high social cost on smoking to any society.
In 1987, ESEC represented the Dr. Samuel Chang Foundation in the
administration and construction of a twelve story teaching facility
for Shanghai Medical University. This project improved the teaching
environment for graduate education at the Shanghai Medical
University. Another of ESEC's medical endeavors has been to help the
impoverished regions of China by improving the standards and
availability of medical care. In addition, we have sent medical
teams to disadvantaged areas to offer service and to participate in
the schistosomiasis prevention project.
Since the late 1980's ESEC has participated in several
development projects to bring hope to the economically depressed
rural regions in China. One of the largest projects ESEC has
undertaken was in Jingning County, in Zhejiang province. Jingning
was named one of China's poorest counties in 1988. Since Jingning
County is located in a highly wooded mountainous region, agrarian
work is difficult. Furthermore, Jingning is isolated. Its lack of
transportation contributed to its continual need to battle poverty.
ESEC/EDIR invested funds to partner with the county government to
establish Shan Bao Food Production Ltd. This venture utilized the
natural resources of the region, mushrooms and bamboo shoots, to
overcome poverty. The project undertook improvising Jingning
County's growing conditions and provided training and support to the
farmers. With the mushroom growing long and improved spores,
mushroom farming became a predictable success. The food company
purchases the crop yields and does the processing, packaging,
marketing and distribution. The per capita income saw an impressive
increase, and reduced the common state of poverty. By 1997 Jingning
County was officially off the impoverished county list.
Jingning is only one of ESEC's efforts to empower impoverished
people. By establishing partnership entities such as wood carving
factories, clothing factories and plastic factories in various
impoverished regions, ESEC continues to contribute in a small way to
the fight against poverty in China.
In the mid 1980's, as China moved away from the Russian model of
education and began a reformation, Higher Education Evaluation
garnered attention. In 1987, ESEC partnered with Peking University
to conduct the first Sino-American Symposium on Higher Education
Evaluation. Thirty universities were invited to participate. The
American keynote speaker was Dr. Bob Andringa, Commissioner of the
Education Commission of the States.
In 1990, the second Sino-American Symposium on Higher Education
Evaluation was held with 150 universities participating. Following
the second symposium, ESEC collaborated with Peking University to
develop a training curriculum for Higher Education Evaluation, and
established an HEE resource center. The third Sino-American
symposium was held in 1994 in Hawaii.
In 1995, a Chinese delegation led by Peking University visited
the USA for the purpose of studying higher education planning for
the 21st century. In 1996, ESEC joined the China Association for
Higher Education to conduct the first International Symposium on
Higher Education Evaluation and Teaching Quality Assurance. Two
hundred representatives from 10 different countries participated.
That event signaled the conclusion of ESEC's involvement on this
topic.
As China gives significant attention tot the needs of disabled
persons, ESEC places a priority to services for the disabled in
China. In 1989 we collaborated with Jiangxi University in publishing
a book titled Disabled Children in Rural Areas. In 1993 we
further collaborated with Nanjing University and Nanjing Normal
University in compiling and publishing two books titled Early
Education for Hearing Impaired Children - Theories and Practice and
Early Education for Hearing Impaired Children - Integrated Design of
Education Activities. In 1993, we co-sponsored with Nanjing
Normal University and China Federation for the Disabled a
college-level training program for special education teachers. We
have conferred seven classes of graduates to date. In cooperation,
ESEC and Nanjing Normal University established the first Masters
degree program in special education in China. There is discussion of
developing this to a higher level degree program.
It is important to mention Dr. Peter Blackwell, and ESEC
volunteer, who is our Director for Special Education to China. Dr.
Blackwell is a world-renowned specialist in hearing impairment, the
former president of the Rhode Island School for the Deaf, and also
the United Nations Ambassador for the Deaf. Since 1992, Dr.
Blackwell has worked in China on a regular basis, helping to develop
curriculum and the degree programs. Dr. Blackwell also takes the
time to teach a course every year. He has contributed significantly
to ESEC's relationship with the special education community in
China.
In the immediate future, ESEC will devote its efforts to the area
of physical rehabilitation. Earlier this year (2001), we arranged
for the top executives of the China Rehabilitation Research Center
to visit the USA and to participate in an orientation and training
program. Fifty-four institutions in the US participated in this
training effort to make it a spectacular success. Many of the
American participants have indicated a strong interest in supporting
the developing rehabilitation program in China.
In addition to the aforementioned programs, ESEC is committed to
giving attention to the ever-changing needs that arise in the
process of China's modernization. We welcome and seek more
productive and efficient ways to cooperate with China. We are in
constant conversation with our Chinese partners, as we continually
seek to work on the most current and prevailing needs. We have
financially supported the building of elementary schools in the
impoverished regions. We will continue to sponsor education
assistance programs for the disadvantaged areas. Our goal is to
empower children from impoverished families with the opportunities
to acquire an education.
In the early 1990's, we have also responded to suggestions from
China to establish a new organization: the Christian Leadership
Exchange. It was established especially for the purpose of promoting
understanding between China and the USA in the area of religious
development. Since its establishment, we have collaborated with the
China Religious Affairs Bureau to organize a number of mutual visits
of religious delegations. This has helped others to better
understand the religious policy of China. Our efforts in this area
have been recognized by the Chinese diplomatic corps in the United
States.
Another ESEC development is related to the trend of
internationalization in education. In China, higher education is a
growth industry with room to develop many new formats. The
advancement in information technology has shortened the distances
between regions and countries. The latest challenge for Chinese
universities is to become "global." Many Chinese universities are
now actively engaged in outside relationships. Exchange programs and
joint research projects are prospering, and China is aiming to equip
its best schools that they may become world-class facilities that
are in compliance with inter-national standards. For that reason,
ESEC chose "The Internationalization of Higher Education" as the
symposium theme for our 20th anniversary celebration. ESEC intends
to continue participation in the deliberation of this topic.
|
Educational
Services Exchange with China, Inc.
