As University of Michigan-Dearborn forges relationships with Chinese universities, the Chinese government has recognized one program from the College of Engineering and Computer Science (CECS).

China’s Scholarship Fund Administration recently named the undergraduate visiting student program with Huazhong University of Science and Technology (HUST) a Distinguished Undergraduate Cooperation Program in the Outstanding Engineers Career Education Plan category. The distinction creates additional scholarship opportunities for Chinese students to study abroad.

According to Dongming Zhao, professor of electrical and computer engineering and coordinator of the exchange program, HUST has recognized only two programs in the world with this designation.

“The designation will help us promote our program to Chinese students who come from underprivileged families,” Zhao said. “Without financial support, those students would never have had the opportunity to study in America.”

Yi Lu Murphey, professor and chair of the Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering (ECE), and Zhao­—who also attended HUST—started the program in Winter 2010 with one enrolled student. Since then, more than 60 students from HUST have participated in the exchange program.

“Exchange programs with global reaches have been viewed by many top universities in the U.S. as pivotal in enhancing the overall quality of higher education,” said Zhao. “Learning among one another, from diverse cultures and histories, broadens our students’ view of the world and makes our students more prepared to enter the workforce, where global economy affects everyone’s life.”

UM-Dearborn had collaborative education programs with two top-ranked Chinese universities last year, HUST and Xi’an Jiaotong University. This fall, plans are underway to welcome students from four additional Chinese universities through the exchange program.

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