From July 21th to 22th, led by Ms. Zhou Yan, Deputy Secretary General of China Education Association for International Exchange (CEAIE), Mr. Han Weichun, Dean of School of International Education, University of International Business and Economics (UIBE), the assessment expert group for international education in China conducted a two-day survey in AAU. Mr. Jiang Chun, Secretary of AAU committee of the Communist Party, Prof. Cheng Beijiu, President of AAU, and Prof. Yao Zuowen, Vice-President of AAU attended the meeting. The attendees also include leaders of major departments and schools in AAU.
At the meeting, Cheng Beijiu welcomed the group and gave a brief introduction to AAU history，education pattern，construction of disciplines and platforms，as well as international education. He pointed out that AAU has always been paying close attention to the education of international students, which is part of the overall university planning.
Zhou Yan appreciated AAU for its support of this assessment and introduced the background and progress of the assessment of international education in China. She hoped that the field survey can help the university to discover characteristics, draw out experience, enrich the meaning and promote the featured development of international education.
Yao Zuowen introduced the current situation of international education in AAU to the expert team. He said AAU always had an open mind in school running and had been carrying out International Exchange and Cooperation Project through various channels and forms in multi-level to fully enhance the international education quality of AAU.
During the one and a half days’ survey, the team checked the teaching and management records for international education and visited the Multi-functional Building of School of International Education, International Student Dormitory, library, Biotechnology Center, State Key Laboratory of Tea Plant Biology and Utilization, Muslims' canteen etc. The team also interviewed school leaders in charge of international education, representatives of teachers and international students. The team then observed the teaching process of Elementary Spoken Chinese.
The team gave positive feedback on AAU’s efforts in the international education. It is of great international awareness and advanced philosophy of schooling for chief university leaders to regard international education as integral to university development program, the experts said. Thanks to excellent teachers and preponderant disciplines, international education in AAU is characteristic and well-structured，attracting more outstanding applicants. The university also has a well-established scholarship system and facilities, and boasts its devoted working staff, teachers and tutors. All the efforts make international students have a strong sense of belonging and satisfaction. Meanwhile, experts also suggested that the university should pay more attention to institution-building, enlarging enrollment, increasing the ratio of self-financing students and periods of Chinese courses, as well as the construction of teaching staff.
Feedback from experts was well-received by Jiang Chun, who said AAU will continue to improve the quality of international education through careful study of indicators and deepening the reforms in an all-round way. The university will also work on rationalizing the management system of international students.
