UW-Parkside News: Ebeid stresses importance of global education

Ebeid stresses importance of global education

Dean Fred Ebeid addresses SBT advisory board.

Dean Ebeid, Chan. Ford, & Provost Brown at SBT.

A recent ad in the Wall Street Journal for an upcoming May 2012 Beijing conference stated its case clearly: "If You're Not in China, You're Not in the Game."

When the University of Wisconsin-Parkside School of Business and Technology welcomed its Advisory Board to campus during fall semester, Dean Fred Ebeid said, in this case, what's true for business is true for education.

"Business is not just local, it's not just national, it's global and the education we're providing our students also needs to be global," Ebeid emphasized. "Our eyes have been opened to the world and we have moved to significantly increase foreign enrollment."

Ebeid cited the 17 Chinese students now engaged at UW-Parkside in what he called a "unique 3+1+1" master's degree program as an example. These students spend three years at their home university in China, a year at UW-Parkside to complete their Chinese bachelor's degree and return to Kenosha for their master's degree.

However, Ebeid said, the agreement needs to work both ways?Chinese students coming here and UW-Parkside students spending time on the mainland. He told advisory board members the university needs "economic help to get our students to go global."

He said the plan is to have UW-Parkside students make short-term visits--2 to 3 weeks in length--at first and build them up to a semester in China. Ebeid announced he, Global Education Director Jamie Wang, and UW-Parkside Chancellor Debbie Ford would travel to China in late October to sign partnership agreements with two Chinese universities. This would be Ebeid and Wang's third visit to China since 2009.

And the SBT doesn't plan to stop its global push in China. Ebeid said he's working on a plan to attract potential partners in India and in Russia. They could join UW-Parkside international partners in Germany and elsewhere in globalizing UW-Parkside students' education.

Ford Thanks Board for Lobbying

During the meeting, Chancellor Ford personally thanked SBT Advisory Board members for their help in convincing state legislators to support operating flexibilities for UW System campuses.

"I truly appreciate your help in getting this accomplished," said Ford, characterizing the university as "well prepared" to implement flexibilities.

Ford said the university is focused on the future. She said preparations are well underway for the 2013 visit of the Higher Learning Commission as the university works toward reaccreditation. She added UW-Parkside is also focused on continuous improvement and on "aligning your needs for bright, talented people with our educational goals."

The Chancellor also mentioned her appointment to the board of the Racine County Economic Development Corporation (RCEDC). The RCEDC joins an impressive list of organizations in which Ford serves as a member.
The next SBT Advisory Board meeting is Monday, Jan. 23, from 4 to 7 p.m.

ABOUT THIS STORY:

Story Status: Archived
Publish date: 1/19/2012