Bowling Green State University (BGSU) delegates visited UIC on 17 March to discuss UIC's first collaborative Master of Arts programme with the University.

Dean of UIC’s Division of Humanities and Social Sciences Prof Mei-hwa Sung (left) exchanges souvenirs with Dean of BGSU's Graduate College Dr Michael Ogawa

Dean of Graduate College at BGSU Dr Michael Ogawa said that there is very good synergy between UIC and BGSU, especially with UIC’s philosophy of whole person education which highly resonates with BGSU’s education culture.

“We are looking for a long-term successful relationship with UIC,” said Dr Ogawa.

Applicants from UIC would enjoy a number of enrolment benefits, according to BGSU’s School of Media & Communications Director Dr Laura Stafford. Such benefits would include a lower GPA enrolment requirement as opposed to the original 3.0 for non-UIC students, since the medium of teaching in UIC is English.

UIC would facilitate recruitment for the programme, and enrolees would be expected to complete the first semester at UIC before taking the rest of their 10 course Master’s Degree programme on the BGSU campus.

Enrolees of the programme would be allowed to choose their area of studies either in Social & Interactive Media or International/Intercultural Communication. A wide selection of elective courses would also allow the programme to meet a wide spectrum of prospective students’ needs.

BGSU’s School of Media & Communications Director Dr Laura Stafford talks of the School with UIC students

Both universities expressed their best intentions of proceeding with the collaboration during the BGSU delegates’ meeting with DHSS’s faculty, attended by Associate Dean of DHSS and Programme Director (PD) of Cinema and Television Prof Evelyn Mai, PD of Public Relations and Advertising Dr Joanne Gula, PD of International Journalism Dr Edgar Yuen, and Director of Centre for Advanced Professional Studies Mr Michael Ching.

Bowling Green State University, found in 1910, is located in Ohio, the US. Its mission statement says it provides educational experiences inside and outside the classroom that enhance the lives of students, faculty and staff. Students are prepared for lifelong career growth, lives of engaged citizenship and leadership in a global society.

UIC has previously signed similar collaborative agreements with postgraduate programmes in other US universities, such as the Master of Science in Technological Systems Management with Stony Brook University and the Master of Science in Biostatistics with Georgetown University.

Reporter: Chiu Wen Chin

Photographers: Zhu Chaoqun and Chiu Wen Chin

Editor: Deen He

(from MPRO, with special thanks to the ELC)