This is an exciting day! As a member of Webster University's Board of Trustees, I am delighted not only that Webster has received this prestigious honor from the Chinese government, but also that we will be sharing this wonderful gift with the entire St. Louis community.I am passionate about global education because the nations of the world are becoming more interdependent every day. Events in other countries often have a direct impact on us in the United States
Thirty years ago, a few years after I first joined Webster's Board of Trustees, the university opened its first campus outside of the U.S., in Geneva, Switzerland. That was very exciting, because it was a new venture not just for Webster, but for any university I'd ever heard of. Today, of course, Webster has about a dozen international outreaches, including our three campuses in China, where we've been for more than a decade.So what Webster has done particularly well, in my opinion, is to foster cross-cultural awareness. As globalization hurtles forward and the world becomes smaller and smaller, I believe it's increasingly important for people to gain some exposure to life outside of this country.
And that's precisely what the Confucius Institute will do for St. Louisans, providing everything from instruction in Chinese language and culture, to exchange opportunities to St. Louis businesses and organizations. It will also sponsor Chinese cultural events for the St. Louis community and serve as an educational resource for Chinese language and culture for elementary and secondary students, teachers and other educators in the St. Louis community.
We invite the community to take advantage of the Confucius Institute at Webster University and learn more about our neighbor, China.Thanks for coming out to hear our good news. |
