BJBIE Annual Meeting with Beijing and US Staff

Early December marked the annual year-end meeting hosted by Beida Jade Bird International Education’s headquarters in Beijing. This meeting was a chance to review 2011, itemize progress, and set plans for the next two years. This was also a chance for the DC staff to meet some new Beijing staff in person. This meeting was an excellent capstone to a busy and successful year.

The lead delegate from the US Branch to attend was Jim Burke, Manager of Program Development and Outreach. He made presentations to the Beijing staff on progress we have made in our pathway, cultural immersion, and language programs, and how we can replicate these successes in our partnership regions across the US. Successes like:

•       Our first group of pathway students started in September and have a whole semester complete! The semester went extremely smoothly with students totally engaged, faculty and local students supporting our group, and academic progress. Our students’ active roles through campus programming have given them the opportunity to make all kinds of new friends and contribute to their host campus. 

•       Our Business in Chinese language curriculum was fully adapted to the US semester system, and was boosted by supplemental DVDs on business etiquette. This curriculum zeros in on tomorrow’s most important business relationship, and uses language to foster a strong understanding of both cultures. Our conference exhibit at November’s ACTFL Conference proved this to many teachers and administrators.

•       Cultural immersion programs scheduled for January and Summer 2012 will bring American students to Beijing, Shanghai, Xi’an, and Sichuan. These are all unique and exciting opportunities for US students to see the dynamic and diverse Chinese cultural from different perspectives.

Our Beijing Office introduced DC staff to the regional partners across provincial and regional China – with over five provincial offices, and seven city-specific offices created in the last year. This established and strong presence is the beginning of a broad network for educational programs that will include regional offices in the U.S. and new headquarters overseas in UK, Germany, Australia, and Japan. This network will provide services and support for all partners interested in developing their market’s international programming needs around the world!

The annual meeting set strong goals to continue our progress and challenge all partners, which makes us all even more excited for 2012.