2008 Woodie Awards
Holy Family "Makes Friends" with University in China
Amanda Hipwell
Issue date: 10/1/07 Section: News
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In recent years, Holy Family University has been forming academic partnerships with universities around the world. This past May 17 to the 23, a delegation of faculty members from Holy Family traveled to the Guizhou province of China to attend an international conference. They also took with them a Memorandum of Understanding, which discussed the possibility of exchanging faculty and students, as well as shared academic projects. This document had already been signed by Holy Family University's president, Sister Francesca Onley, CSFN, PhD, but required the approving signature of Guizhou University's president, Shuping Chen, PhD, to be put in effect.
Dr. Leonard Soroka, EdD; Dr. Roger Gee, PhD; Dr. Patricia Duncan, EdD; and Dr. Guo-An Diao, PhD, were the faculty members who embarked on this prestigious journey. While in China, they participated in the Global Perspective in Higher Education International Conference. The delegation had the opportunity to organize and share a presentation about Holy Family, addressing its mission and identity as a Catholic university, as well as its diverse student population, various academic projects, and its involvement in the surrounding community.
The team lodged in the new conference center at Guizhou University. They spent much of their time with the university students, who served as ambassadors to their American visitors and were very receptive to learning more about American culture. "You could not ask for nicer hosts," said Soroka. Both Soroka and Duncan agree that some of the most enjoyable times of the trip were spent with the students.
As the delegation shared their own customs and traditions, they also became more exposed to Chinese culture. For example, men plowing fields with water buffalo was a common sight in the countryside of Guizhou. As for the people of China, the group noticed how respectful and accepting they were of others. "You felt dignified even by the way you were treated upon entry to the country," said Duncan, in reference to their arrival to the airport in Beijing. In other places, every detail was carefully thought out, right down to the seating arrangement.
Dr. Leonard Soroka, EdD; Dr. Roger Gee, PhD; Dr. Patricia Duncan, EdD; and Dr. Guo-An Diao, PhD, were the faculty members who embarked on this prestigious journey. While in China, they participated in the Global Perspective in Higher Education International Conference. The delegation had the opportunity to organize and share a presentation about Holy Family, addressing its mission and identity as a Catholic university, as well as its diverse student population, various academic projects, and its involvement in the surrounding community.
The team lodged in the new conference center at Guizhou University. They spent much of their time with the university students, who served as ambassadors to their American visitors and were very receptive to learning more about American culture. "You could not ask for nicer hosts," said Soroka. Both Soroka and Duncan agree that some of the most enjoyable times of the trip were spent with the students.
As the delegation shared their own customs and traditions, they also became more exposed to Chinese culture. For example, men plowing fields with water buffalo was a common sight in the countryside of Guizhou. As for the people of China, the group noticed how respectful and accepting they were of others. "You felt dignified even by the way you were treated upon entry to the country," said Duncan, in reference to their arrival to the airport in Beijing. In other places, every detail was carefully thought out, right down to the seating arrangement.