The University of Toledo College of Business Administration hosted a delegation of 15 faculty members from Zhejiang University of Finance and Economics (ZUFE) in Hangzhou, China, last month.
It is the second delegation from ZUFE to visit UT since a strategic partnership agreement was signed in 2008 to foster faculty and student exchange between the two institutions.
“As UT College of Business Administration faculty meets with their Zhejiang University colleagues, we advance the realism that both business and academia need to effectively function in a true global community,” said Dr. Thomas Gutteridge, dean of the College of Business Administration. “Opportunities such as this will ultimately help both universities better prepare the ethical business leaders of tomorrow.”
Zhejiang University of Finance and Economics was established in 1974 and has more than 17,000 students. The University of Toledo has more than 22,000 students, including more than 3,300 enrolled in the College of Business Administration.
Dr. Aige Guo, assistant director of the UT Office of Global Initiatives, said the ZUFE delegation met with Gutteridge and departmental chairs; accounting faculty and students; International Business Institute faculty, staff and students; and invited business leaders from local companies. They also observed classes and had structured and independent time on and off campus to obtain a bigger picture of the academic and business environment in this area. In addition, the visiting faculty members checked out Carlson Library.
Among the delegation’s activities during their second week in Ohio were visits with local accounting firms — Ernst & Young LLP in Toledo and Gilmore, Jasion & Mahler Ltd. in Maumee — and a meeting with the Ohio Society of Certified Public Accountants in Columbus.
ZUFE has recommended six graduate students to study in the College of Business Administration’s graduate program. One is enrolled at UT; five have been admitted to the college for fall semester.
At the same time, ZUFE invites UT students with bachelor’s or master’s degrees in English, finance, accounting, economics or other disciplines to teach at ZUFE as invited scholars for a year or two. For more information, contact Guo at 419.530.4483.
“We are trying to develop joint programs to successfully work with colleges in different countries such as ZUFE,” Guo said. “Chinese and the U.S. students enjoy the opportunity to study abroad, to have true interactions in another culture. These experiences not only offer opportunity for an enriched experience in personal development, but can help the individuals stand out to employers when they ultimately enter the job market.”
