Exchange students from the People’s Republic of China arrived at the University and met with the Charlottesville Regional Chamber of Commerce Tuesday. The economics and business visiting undergraduate students will engage in discussions at both institutions and will be in Charlottesville for two weeks.
The Office of Summer and Special Academic Programs at the University organized two concurrent seminars for the visiting students, who are enrolled in East China Normal University and Shanghai University of International Business and Economics. The students are high intermediate to low advanced English learners and will engage with University students on Grounds to expand their skills in North American English.
The University maintains partnerships with Chinese universities, but the seminars offered over the next two weeks are separate from these partnerships. Neither the University nor the Chamber of Commerce participated in the selection of the students.
Brian Ullman, special academic programs coordinator with the Office of Summer and Special Academic Programs, said the seminars focus on American English language and culture, integrating business themes in line with the students’ field of study.
“Nearly all of the seminar participants are pursuing degrees related to business and management, so we have infused the seminars’ lectures and excursions with elements that relate to business in the American context,” Ullman said.
In addition to seminars on Grounds, the students will visit local American landmarks, such as Washington D.C., the Blue Ridge Mountains and Monticello.
“Excursions, lectures and seminar sessions broaden participants’ understanding of the U.S.,” Ullman said.
The students visited the Charlottesville Regional Chamber of Commerce Tuesday to hear members speak and learn more about how American commerce functions.
Andrea Copeland-Whitsett, director of Member Education Services for the Charlottesville Regional Chamber of Commerce, spoke to the students at the Chamber of Commerce.
“Given the extensive work we do with, in and for our business community, it made sense for them to visit with us,” Copeland-Whitsett said. “Because this is an educational experience for the students, I shared briefly the educational opportunities I provide for our membership, namely with the Leadership Charlottesville program and the Chamber Business Academy.”
Chamber President and CEO Timothy Hulbert was the primary speaker, and students were given time to ask him questions.
Chamber members said the visit was mutually beneficial.
“Most of the individuals we interact with on a daily basis are established business people, adults,” Copeland-Whitsett said. “It was nice to have these business students from another country, many of them future business owners and leaders, visit with us to learn about our business operations and our role in the greater Charlottesville region.”
The primary goal of the program is to host visitors who could benefit from learning about American English and commerce both in and out of the classroom.
“It’s one thing to sit in a class and learn about business, but it’s a whole other thing when one can provide students the exposure to business and the business community that they’re learning about in the classroom,” Copeland-Whitsett said.
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