Often our understanding of the world is quite limited. For example, the Beloit College Mindset List has noted that students entering college recently have only known China as a critical market economy. Changing this narrow view is a key goal of our Asian studies program as we expand it to introduce our students to the culture, economy, politics, and most critically, the language of this world power.

Last spring, Beloit College extended its programs in China. During a trip by key faculty and administrators, we formalized two important partnerships in our outreach to Asia for the future. At the same time, we honored the significant role that our exchange programs have played in the past.

New relationships were confirmed in ceremonies at Henan University in Kaifeng and at Shandong University in Jinan in May. They are part of a dynamic Beloit program called “Cities in Transition” and offer the opportunity for our students to expand their knowledge through cultural experiences, on their own, beyond the classroom.

We chose two dissimilar universities in the Mandarin-speaking region in the north of China. While both institutions are in provincial capitals and are the equivalent of state research universities, they are in distinct cities that will allow our students to experience both historical and contemporary settings. Kaifeng is traditional and diverse, while Jinan is cosmopolitan and built on trade with Korea. Beloit students who participate will spend time in both places.

Our objective is to enable students to understand the lived realities of the two cities while they are engaged in an intensive study of the language. This is an outgrowth of activities initiated five years ago with a major grant from the Freeman Foundation, which aimed to strengthen our program in Asian studies. Through that grant, we were able to identify cities and institutions, prepare our faculty, and initiate exchanges. The grant also enabled both Asian studies and other faculty to incorporate teaching about Asia into courses in anthropology, art history, economics, film studies, history, modern languages and literatures, museum studies, political science, religious studies, women’s and gender studies, and the First-Year Initiatives program.

These new partnerships are an enhancement of our programs in China and the Cities in Transition program, which also offers courses in Ecuador and Senegal. A gift several years ago from Trustee William Keefer and his wife, Gayle Keefer, is facilitating an expansion of the program to include Moscow, Nicaragua, and the city of Beloit.

A high point of this trip for Sally and me came in Shanghai, when we were able to look back on a long and distinguished heritage in China. Alumnus Raymond Ting, who attended Beloit from 1992-1994, made the local arrangements to bring together former exchange students and alumni working in China at a dinner that celebrated the long history of our commitment to the region. We named Xiao-Xuan (Edward) Tang’49 Honorary Chair of the Friends of Beloit College in China, recognizing three generations of the Tang family to graduate from Beloit. Eddie Tang’84 accepted the chair on behalf of his father.

We honor the driving spirits that have helped Beloit build connections in China, as well as our new partners there, for helping us to set new goals and expectations at this important time in history. With their assistance, Beloit will continue to provide unique leadership in international education for students who will help direct the future of our relations with China and the rest of the world.

President John E. Burris