CPP Global Education Institute Living Up To Its Name

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President Coley with visiting delegation
Soraya M. Coley, President of Cal Poly Pomona, and other Cal Poly Pomona administrators with the visiting delegation

Cal Poly Pomona’s global presence was exemplified by the Sino-U.S. University Presidents’ Forum it hosted on Oct. 30 attended by 21 university vice presidents, deans and departmental directors representing 11 Chinese universities.

The forum put on by CPP’s Global Education Institute (GEI) of the College of the Extended University (CEU) was under the auspices of China Ministry of Education and China Education Association for International Exchange.

CPP President  Soraya Coley welcomed the forum participants at the opening ceremony.  Presentations on learn-by-doing practices with a focus on student innovation and entrepreneurship were then given by several members of the CPP administration, including Sadiq Shah, Associate Vice President for Research, Innovation and Economic Development, Olukemi Sawyerr, Interim Assistant Vice President for Academic Innovation, Cheryl Wyrick, Interim Dean and Senior International Officer of College of the Extended University and International Center and Lisa Xue, Director of the Global Education Institute.

CPP Associate Provost Sep Eskandari led a panel discussion focused on CPP’s learn-by-doing philosophy and student innovation and entrepreneurship, followed by parallel discussions on cooperation.

Consul Zhang Taiqing, Head of Education Office and Consul Sun Xuejing from the Chinese Consulate General in Los Angeles participated in the cooperation discussion.

Provost Alva poses with visiting delegation.
Provost Alva hosted the welcome dinner for the visiting delegation.

Taiqing spoke very highly of Cal Poly Pomona’s learn-by-doing philosophy and the great contribution the university has made to healthy development of Chinese higher education.  He also indicated that the Chinese Consulate General in Los Angeles would give full support to the academic cooperation and exchange between Chinese universities and Cal Poly Pomona.

The delegation also observed operations by CPP students in the Restaurant at Kellogg Ranch, and visited the labs at College of Engineering.

“We are very impressed by Cal Poly Pomona’s Learn by Doing philosophy,” Li Chunsheng, Deputy Secretary General of China Education Association for International Exchange, said. “I totally agree with President Coley that this philosophy will foster entrepreneurial and innovation skills in students and prepare them for the future of work and human and civic engagement. I look forward to more academic cooperation and exchange between more Chinese universities and Cal Poly Pomona.”

After the forum, four Chinese universities requested to sign a MOU with Cal Poly Pomona.

The panelists from the discussion focused on CPP’s learn-by-doing philosophy and student innovation and entrepreneurship included:

  • Dr. Alison Baski, Dean, College of Science
  • Dr. Iris Levine, Dean, College of Letters, Arts and Social Sciences
  • Dr. Erik Rolland, Dean, College of Business Administration
  • Dr. Ronald Yeung, Associate Dean for Academic Affairs & Student Services, College of Engineering
  • Dr. Xudong Jia, Professor and Chair of Civil Engineering Department, College of Engineering
  • Ms. Hannah Zhuang, Senior Student of Food Science and Technology, Don B. Huntley College of Agriculture
  • Dr. Meihua Koo, Interim Associate Dean of the College of Business Administration
  • Dr. Olive Li, Associate Professor of Nutrition and Food Science and Director of Research, Don B. Huntley College of Agriculture