University partnerships can be shaky

been taught to memorize. I just think the Chinese mentality trains the memory muscles, recitation muscles, but also trains an ability to do something that might be painful in the short term in order to gain something in the long term,” she said.

Zhang Ming, a professor at Renmin University of China and an education columnist, said while Western universities eye the education market in China, neither the universities nor their Chinese counterparts are ready for close cooperation.

“In recent years, an increasing number of Chinese students have gone abroad to study, which gives the Western universities a signal of huge market potential in China,” Zhang said.

“However, the foreign universities chase after the market but ignore that they know little about Chinese students or China’s education.

“On the other hand, the domestic universities are not prepared for competition that foreign universities will bring to China,” Zhang said.

Yet such divergence has not really cooled the enthusiasm with which foreign universities are seeking closer associations with China.

In July, the world-famous Juilliard School announced its plan to establish an educational institute in Tianjin, a city near Beijing.

And the Guangdong University of Foreign Studies and UK-based Lancaster University have agreed to establish a new university in Guangzhou, Guangdong province.

“Among the 2,600 colleges in China, more than 95 percent have various levels of connections with overseas colleges and institutions,” said Yuan Zhenguo, president of the National Institute of Education Sciences.

“With further- expanded globalization, the mutual understanding and mutual respect among different countries is of increasing importance. And education has a major role to play in enhancing the understanding between different cultures,” Yuan said. Contact the writers at chengyingqi@chinadaily.com.cn and mbodurtha@gmail.com