Shanghai program begins with few students
By: Lindsey Pilcher
Issue date: 9/2/04 Section: News
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The new study abroad opportunity is offered through a partnership with Shanghai International Studies University (SISU), which focuses on foreign language studies. All classes will be taught in English by Webster professors, with the exception of Mandarin, which will be taught by a SISU professor.
Study abroad advisers Mark Beirn and David DeBrot emphasize that this program is more about cultural immersion than the other study abroad opportunities, since the set class schedule includes culture, geography, history and language.
"Shanghai demonstrates change in finance, business and integration of culture," Beirn said. "It's very relevant to the world."
Although this is the first semester for the undergraduate program, Webster has had a program in Shanghai offering graduate degrees since 1997. According to Beirn, since the staff has been on the campus for several years, there should be no administrative problems.
The five students, two of whom are from Webster and three of whom are from other universities, will be flying to the campus next week to prepare for classes that begin Sept. 13. For the spring semester, Beirn is anticipating 10 students, and already has several applications in.
Airfare is included in tuition for the program, but the living arrangements are charged separately. Rooms are furnished and come with cable television and a cooking area. Living costs in Shanghai are more expensive relative to St. Louis costs.
Although SARS and the Avian flu have been ongoing health concerns in Asia, Beirn says that the study abroad office monitors health advisories on an ongoing basis.
If Webster did not feel comfortable about the health conditions in the country, it would not be sending students to the program, DeBrot said.
Jih-Un Kim, assistant professor of the History, Politics and Law department, is teaching an international relations course at the St. Louis campus on contemporary China. He has been to China twice and stayed in Taiyuan, which is west of Beijing, for eight months.
Although Kim has never been to Shanghai, he says that the Eastern coastline is developing dramatically and it is much different than the rest of China. Kim believes studying China is important because of the role it plays in economics.
"For the last decade China has had two-digit economic growth per year," Kim said. "China will be a huge market, and people will have more purchasing power."
Although China is a communist country, Kim says that this should not affect students' day-to-day lives. Although there are some cyberspace gatekeepers who limit access to some Web sites, Internet cafes are now everywhere and students can access most of the Internet without problems.
"There is a lot of Western influence," Kim said. "You cannot find a seat at KFC or McDonalds."
Although China has problems, such as high poverty and human rights violations, Kim notes that international relations is guided by pragmatism, not morality, and students have to know China as it is, flaws and all.
The deadline for applications for the China Studies program is Sept. 15. Interested students can set up an advising session with DeBrot by calling 968-6988.
