Skip to main content



Brown University and the “Year of China”

YOC LogoThis month marks the kickoff of Brown University’s “Year of China,” an effort to “explore the rich culture, economy, and politics of Greater China, investigating its past, examining its present, and contemplating its future.” Throughout the 2011-2012 academic year, Brown will host lectures, cultural events, conferences, and exhibits in an integrated exploration of China. 

This special initiative is sponsored by the Office of International Affairs and led by Prof. Chung-I Tan, physics faculty.  Prof. Tan commented in an interview (available here), “Due to the explosive growth of the Internet, job opportunities for our students are progressively more global in scope. I hope Brown students will more fully appreciate the fact that the futures of America and China are inextricably intertwined, and one can no longer afford to lack insight into the exceptional world player that is China. It is an indispensable partner in addressing global challenges. While we appreciate its past glory and its future promise, China will help to mold our own future. We hope that our students will engage in visits and exchanges to China to increase Chinese awareness of Brown and its unique standing in American higher education.”

Incoming students in Brown’s Class of 2015 were asked to read Leslie Chang’s Factory Girls (2009) as their “First Reading” this summer; the book is about rural migration and China’s modern industrial revolution.  The Year of China’s planned events officially begin this month with an exhibition by famed Chinese modern artist, Cai Guo-Qiang.  A full listing of this year’s events can be found on the official Year of China website, here.

The Year of China initiative is but one example of the ways Ivy League institutions have attempted to increase exchanges with China in recent years.

Comments

Leave a Reply

Pages

Admin


Skip to toolbar