Vice Rector Haydn Chen (VR Chen) led delegation members for this official trip included Master Kit Thompson, Master Chung Ling and Associate Master Robert Wessling to attend ASIANetwork Conference and post Conference visits to U.S. Universities in April 2014.
1. ASIANetwork Conference (April 10-13)
The 22nd ASIANetwork conference theme was “Engaging Diversity in Asia”. The conference participants were mainly from Liberal Arts Colleges throughout the United States. University of Macau (UM) delegation has assigned to attend the concurrent panel session held in ASIANetwork conference. During one of the conference’s panel session, Vice Rector Haydn Chen was invited by the panel to present the topic “Innovation of Whole-Person Education in Asia” jointly with Prof. Weber (Wheaton College), Prof. Wang (Fudan University) and Dr. Shive ( The Chinese University of Hong Kong). The main objectives joining this conference is to publicize the UM’s Residential College (RC) system among influential educators in the U.S., to establish networks with U.S. colleagues, and to benefit from the expertise and experience of the U.S. Liberal Arts colleagues.
2. Visit of Yale University
The visit of Yale University provided UM delegation the opportunities to learn and experience one of the best well-established Residential College System in the United States. UM delegation met with Prof. Marvin Chun, Master of Berkeley College of Yale University. Master Chun introduced his college and shared Yale’s residential college system with us. The staff structure of the Berkeley College is quite similar to UM’s infant RC system. Dr. John Loge, Dean of Timothy Dwight College, Dr. Mark Schenker, Dean of Academic Affairs and Dr. Jane Edwards, Dean of International and Professional Experience of Yale University shared his daily task experience with UM delegation.
3. Visit of Mount Holyoke College
UM delegation had meeting with Eva Paus, Director of the McCulloch Center for Global Initiatives; Kir Lange, Director of International Experiential Learning (IEL); Joanne Picard, Dean of International Studies; and Alan Bloomgarden, Director of Community engagement. The professional staff of the college emphasize on pursuing narrow learning goals for students. In addition, staff and student of this college develop meaningful community relationship with local corporations. The involvement in community might be an excellent role model that RC students of UM should look forward to in the future.
4. Visit of Amherst College
Prof. Gregory Call, Dean of the Faculty explained the larger institutional history and framework of the College with UM delegation. Amherst College places a high priority on meaningful interaction between students and their professors. Faculty members are leading scholars and researcher, maintaining a student-faculty ratio of 8:1 and an average class size of fifteen students. Size of the dormitory ranged from student body of as small as 80 to hundreds each. UM delegation had luncheon with Peter Uvin, Provost & Professor of Political Science and Amherst students. The students at Amherst College have high participation in activities arranged by the Residential College. Student life at Amherst residential college is very close to the life at Yale University and other sister Liberal Arts Colleges.The final meeting with Molly Mead, Director of the Center for Community Engagement discussed various services provided to students. The office works with local community groups and faculty to ensure student are gaining valuable time on service learning.