Today@Dal

Submitted by Keith Taylor

March 18, Nanjing

Nanjing University is among the top five universities in China and leads the nation in several disciplines. While on a short walking tour this morning, we were struck by greenery of the main campus and the character of its iconic administration buildings.

As an institution we benefit from the love that Prof. Wang Ying, one of their top scientists, holds for Dalhousie. She spent three years, starting right after the end of the Cultural Revolution in 1978, working with oceanographers and earth scientists at Dal and the Bedford Institute of Oceanography and began building the scientific reputation that led to her election in the Chinese Academy of Science.

Today’s discussions with Associate Vice-President Zhang Xu Yu, and Dai Zhehua, Deputy Director of the Office of International Cooperation and Exchanges followed up on a visit that Chris Moore, Dean of Science, made last fall. Dean Moore has proposed student exchange and study abroad arrangements with Nanjing University to supplement our active research connections.

After lunch we visited Nanjing Foreign Language School – British Columbia Academy (formerly Grand Canadian Academy) which just happens to be the high school where Chenxi studied. There are actually a significant number of graduates of NFLS-BCA currently enrolled at Dal and approximately 10 have already been accepted for next year. We don’t know if all 10 will choose us but I think today’s visit will certainly improve our conversion rate on the offers.

The delegation presents to students at NFLS-BCA who are considering Dalhousie.
Almost 30 students and a few parents showed up for our presentation. Chenxi had photos of NFLS-BCA grads who are currently at Dal enjoying life on our campus and around Halifax and Asa blended those snaps seamlessly into her PowerPoint deck. Those pictures, plus Chenxi’s testimonial of student life in Halifax, provided us with a credibility that recruiters from our competitors would envy. There was no awkward period of hesitation when we asked if there were any questions; in fact, all of our available time was consumed with the enthusiasm in the room.

I was particularly touched by the reaction of a young lady who received her acceptance package hand delivered by Asa today. She is determined to become a marine biologist and knew that we have an outstanding program. She was thrilled to get her acceptance.

As soon as we wrapped up with the students, we were whisked off to Nanjing’s stunning new train station, reportedly the largest in Asia, for the move to Hangzhou. I think we all agree that Nanjing has been our favourite stop so far.

Read more from the delegation, including all of the updates thus far, at the Eastern Horizons blog.