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Home > About NC State > Chancellor > Speeches and Writings > 2006 > China Partnerships AnnouncementRemarks from China Initiative Announcement
October 11, 2006
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Welcome and thank you for joining us on this special day for North Carolina State University. This morning, you will hear from You Shaozhong, the Chinese embassy minister counselor for education and cultural exchange; Charles Hayes, member of the UNC Board of Governors and president and CEO of the Research Triangle Regional Partnership; and Larry Nielsen, our provost and executive vice chancellor for academic affairs.
We are here today to announce a landmark partnership that will position NC State as a role model in developing international education. NC State is uniquely positioned to deliver a multi-disciplinary education combining the sciences and the humanities, and to take steps to prepare our graduates to lead, live and work in an increasingly global economy. And, you may not know that NC State is the only university in the state with the two words "economic development" clearly stated in our mission statement. We're very serious about that role.
In keeping with our academic and economic development mission, NC State will sign agreements later this month with six Chinese universities, including the country's top three universities. These international agreements go well beyond study abroad and will redefine international education at NC State. These agreements will create new avenues for our graduates to compete globally, and these agreements will give North Carolina new opportunities for links to an emerging economy. Before we hear from Provost Nielsen about the specifics of the agreements, I'd like to emphasize the benefits of international education.
What we're creating carries benefits in at least four areas: certainly for our students; certainly for economic development; certainly for our efforts to graduate more students in science, technology, engineering and mathematics disciplines; and certainly for fostering global understanding.
First, benefits for our students. International exposure will give NC State students an advantage when they compete for jobs world-wide. Our students will have opportunities to immerse themselves in Chinese culture, language and society. Our students will also gain real-world experience in one of the fastest-growing economies in the world.
Similarly, degrees from U.S. universities make international students more competitive in the job market and are highly sought after. NC State will benefit from the increased number of international students on our campus and the global perspective they bring with them to our campus.
Second, I mentioned economic development benefits for this area, RTP and the state. Historically, NC State has been an engine for economic development through research activities and the creation of jobs and spin-off companies. We also have extension services provided in all 100 counties and the Cherokee reservation, as well as state-wide industrial extension activities, partnerships with business and industry and collaborations with other universities.
The links to universities in China will not only open an academic connection between North Carolina and China, but these linkages will be conducive to furthering the cause of economic development in the state. Among its many advantages, this area and RTP are home to a number of businesses with global ties, including ties to China with companies such as Red Hat, Lenovo and SAS coming immediately to mind.
Thirdly, I'm sure you have heard about the statistics that indicate the United States has lost its competitive advantage in the world when it comes to producing Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics graduates. We offer more than 150 degrees in these fields and consistently rank among the top universities in the nation in producing graduates from these fields.
In the global community of today and tomorrow, these high-tech fields are the keys to jobs, opportunities and success. Through partnerships with Chinese universities that also have strengths in these disciplines, NC State will attract more students into these fields and prepare graduates to be leaders in a globally competitive future.
Finally, these international agreements will support our global community. NC State's 31,000 students come from more than 120 countries. Partnerships with universities in China will give American students the opportunity to immerse themselves in Chinese culture, and will bring more Chinese students to NC State, broadening the diverse community already found on our campus.
Our graduates need to be able to understand global cultures and societies. International academic agreements not only can become the basis for economic development, but also provide the basis for the kind of cultural exchange that will promote a better understanding between the people of China and the people of North Carolina.
I want to thank you for joining us today to celebrate these agreements.
Many of you here today are already our partners in a variety of ways.
I hope you see benefits that will accrue to your own organizations as well as for our ongoing collaborations. Thank you.