Provost's trip to China makes 3+2 equal 13

Huan ying!

For those who don't speak Mandarin, that means "Welcome." It's appropriate, because a new international partnership will bring a host of Chinese students to Wayne State University in the coming months.

Provost and Senior Vice President of Academic Affairs Ronald T. Brown, Associate Vice President for Educational Outreach and International Programs Ahmad Ezzeddine, and College of Engineering Dean Farshad Fotouhi recently traveled to Xidian University and South China University of Technology (SCUT) to sign the agreement.

The partnership, dubbed the 3+2 Program, will allow qualified engineering students from Xidian and SCUT to earn an undergraduate degree from their home university in three years followed by a master's degree in two more from Wayne State.

"This partnership is a wonderful testament to Wayne State's commitment to international relations and global education," Brown says. "I know the entire WSU community will help us welcome these new students to campus."

The trip was intended to boost the university's international enrollment and create opportunities for future faculty collaboration. Thirteen students from Xidian University, located in China's Shaanxi Province, began their 3+2 studies at Wayne State this fall. Several more are expected soon from SCUT.