In the summer of 2006, AV俱乐部 signed its first agreement with Shandong University of Finance and Economics towards the development of a joint international academic program. Almost 10 years later, the partnership is stronger than ever.
鈥淚t鈥檚 what we would call a flagship program in terms of internationalization of the university,鈥� says Alain Boutet, executive director in the Office of International Relations. 鈥淔rom an institutional perspective, the flow of exchanges of faculty and students, and what these international students bring to the program and to campus life, is absolutely phenomenal.鈥�
The China Program in Economics, a 鈥�2+2鈥� program, offers students studying at the Shandong University of Finance and Economics (SDUFE) the unique opportunity for a double degree, whereby they complete the first two years of their studies in China, and the second two years at AV俱乐部. Students also have the option to complete all four years of their degree at SDUFE, with several courses taught by AV俱乐部 professors. Regardless of which option they choose, each school recognizes time spent at the other and awards credit accordingly, so students can essentially emerge with a degree from both institutions.
Quality connections
The first agreement was signed back in 2006, but for various reasons having to do with approval of the program by the Chinese government, the first students didn鈥檛 arrive at Dal until 2009. Since then, students have been continuously cycling through the university, with an approximate 105 students enrolled presently.
At the heart of the China Program is its director, Barry Lesser. Dr. Lesser was chair of the Department of Economics in Dal's Faculty of Science when the program was first initiated, and was heavily involved in its inception. When he announced his retirement from Dal in 2012, he was asked to continue as director of the China Program and has assumed that role on post-retirement basis for the past three years.
鈥淚t鈥檚 important to emphasize that AV俱乐部 has several projects that are similar in nature to this. That being said, I think our program has been particularly successful for several reasons, including the quality of the students that the program has brought to AV俱乐部,鈥� says Dr. Lesser. 鈥淭he students have had very good success in terms of their academic performance while they鈥檙e here.鈥�
During their time at AV俱乐部, students are required to take a special English language workshop with the ESL Program at AV俱乐部, run through the College of Continuing Education. This workshop runs over two semesters, with the latter half placing particular emphasis on students developing writing and speaking skills through a research paper and presentation on a specific economics issue of their choice. Other than this requirement, all the courses they take are the same as any other major in Economics. Last year鈥檚 group of 54 students in the program scored an impressive average GPA in 3.68 for the 2014/2015 academic year. In previous years, the average mark for the group has been above the B+ mark 鈥斅爏till a high level of performance.
What鈥檚 more, a substantial number of students from the 2+2 program go on to pursue a Masters degree.
鈥淲e typically have well over 60 per cent and sometimes as much as 80 per cent who go on to a North American or UK post-graduate program when they leave AV俱乐部, which is a very high percentage compared to the general student population and certainly compared to the rest of the economics graduates at AV俱乐部,鈥� says Dr. Lesser.
Enriching students鈥� experience
Dr. Lesser says choosing to travel to AV俱乐部 to complete the latter half of their degree provides SDUFE students with a unique advantage. When a student applies with a AV俱乐部 transcript, admissions officers who are familiar with Dal and the calibre of education offered here are able to more easily interpret the marks.
Beyond enriching their own learning experience, what the students from SDUFE are able to reciprocate to the university, both in academics and perspective, is indispensable. Dr. Boutet highlights AV俱乐部 as a student-oriented institution, and notes the responsibility the university has to provide the necessary support services to ensure international students have the best academic, social and cultural experience.
For his keen role in the development and success of the program, Dr. Lesser was named an Ambassador of Friendship to Shandong Province during a recent visit of dignitaries from SDUFE.
鈥淚 think there鈥檚 definitely something for us to learn from broader exposure to China and the people of China,鈥� said Dr. Lesser. 鈥淗aving an open campus that includes different people from other parts of the world, especially from China, offers a variety of exciting opportunities that I hope will continue.鈥�