A delegation from Qufu Normal University, a major university in China’s Shandong Province, visited Florida International University (FIU) on June 18, 2011. It was the first time representatives from the two institutions had met.

One of the stops on the tour was the College of Business Administration, where the group from China had conversations with the college’s senior associate dean Christos Koulamas, and with Chapman Graduate School staff members Anna Pietraszek, director, graduate admissions and recruitment, Chapman Graduate School of Business and Maria Pradilla, coordinator, international projects. Peng Lu, FIU’s director for China Projects, also met with the group.

“We showed them our facilities and then we spent time with Douglas Wartzok, FIU’s provost and executive vice president,” Pietraszek said. “Ren Tingqi, the president of the university was very pleased with the visit and wants to collaborate with the business school and the College of Education.”

The relationship might be formalized for the 2012-2013 academic year and might involve a Dual Degree program, although details are yet to be worked out. Through a Dual Degree program, students from Qufu would come to Miami to study. There also could be opportunities for FIU students to study there.

“In the future, we might offer a study abroad for our International MBA students,” Pietraszek said.