Anhui officials visit Longwood

Officials from Anhui University of Technology visited Longwood University recently to further the partnership and exchange agreement that the two universities signed in 2004.  Among the Chinese dignitaries were President Yuwan Cen; Professor Mingdong Zheng, Director of the Academic Disciplines Construction and Planning Office; and Shan'gui Hu (also known as Stanley), Section Chief of the Office of International Affairs.

Longwood's Dr. Lily Goetz, former Director of International Affairs, and Dr. Robert Frank, current Director of International Affairs, served as co-hosts for the Anhui guests. Dr. Frank was previously head of international education at Morehead State University.  A highlight of the visit was a reception and dinner at the home of Drs. Goetz and Bill Harbour, Associate Professor of Political Science at Longwood.

Since the agreement between Longwood and Anhui was signed, 83 Chinese students have studied at Longwood for either one or two years, including 25 students enrolled for 2009-10.  In addition, four groups of Longwood students have studied at Anhui University of Technology during summers.  Longwood has hosted six professors from Anhui as visiting faculty, and four professors from Longwood have visited and taught at Anhui University of Technology.  Longwood and Anhui presidents and vice presidents, as well as other officials, also have exchanged visits.

Anhui University of Technology enrolls approximately 20,000 students, of whom 14,000 are undergraduates. The university is located in Ma'anshan (Anhui Province), a city of 1.4 million on the Yangtze River not far from Nanjing.

(standing, from left): Melinda Fowlkes, assistant dean, College of Business and Economics; Dr. Charles Ross, dean of the College of Arts and Sciences; Dr. Wayne McWee, provost and vice president for academic affairs; Dr. Robert Frank, director of international affairs; Dr. Paul Barrett, dean, College of Business and Economics; Dr. Lily Goetz, former director of international affairs; Professor Mingdong Zheng, director of the Academic Disciplines Construction and Planning Office at Anhui University; and Shangui Hu, Section Chief of the Office of International Affairs at Anhui University.