Agreement for International Education Cooperation

Between Nanjing Xiaozhuang College (Nanjing, Jiangsu Province, People’s Republic of China) and Brandon University (Brandon, Manitoba, Canada)

1. Purpose

In recognition of the proven value, both personal and educational, of the exchange experience for students, staff and faculty, it is our intention to establish, at the institutional level, the principles, policy guidelines and procedures required to facilitate such exchanges between Nanjing Xiaozhuang College, Jiangsu Province, People’s Republic of China (herein referred to as NXC) and Brandon University, Manitoba, Canada (herein referred to as BU).

2. Objective

The objective of this agreement is to encourage international educational co-operation and exchange between the two institutions. Such co-operation includes, but is not limited to:

2.1 students (exchanges, visits, articulations);
2.2 faculty and staff (instructors, researchers, and administrators) and;
2.3 cultural and artistic works and compositions

3. Scope

This agreement between Brandon University and Nanjing Xiaozhuang College may apply to any appropriate academic field available at either institution, subject to the prior approval of the administration of the host institution. This agreement supercedes the Memorandum of Agreement signed in 2001 and the Mutual Agreement signed in 2002.

4. Students

Many students may wish to internationalize their educations without pursuing an entire degree in another country. Additionally, students may gain great benefits from exposure to the teaching and research expertise available at both NXC and BU that would not be available if their studies were pursued entirely at one institution alone. The movement of students between NXC and BU may be facilitated through the following provisions for visiting students and articulated transfers.

4.1 Visiting Students

4.1.1 All student visits must operate within the existing guidelines and regulations of the Office of International Activities of Brandon University and of the appropriate administrative office at Nanjing Xiaozhuang College.

4.1.2 The language of instruction at NXC is Chinese; at BU the language is English. Language proficiency of visiting students, other than those wishing to study language courses, will be gauged and verified to the host institution in advance by appropriate personnel (i.e. faculty members or others) of the sending institution. These students must have good command of the host institution’s language, sufficient to allow them to benefit from their program of study. Students who wish to enroll at BU must meet its English language admissions requirements.

4.1.3 Visiting students may take courses for credit, and the host institution will issue a transcript and grades for visiting students under the same rules and regulations as for its own degree-seeking students.

4.1.4 An affidavit of financial support for living expenses must be submitted in advance to the host institution by visiting students.

4.1.5 Visiting students must be in good academic standing at their home institution.

4.1.6 Visiting students are expected to adhere to the academic policies and regulations of the host institution, maintain satisfactory academic standing, and respect the cultural mores, national traditions and customs of the host country. Violations of these terms may result in the host institution withdrawing academic sponsorship.

4.1.7 There are two types of students that may participate in a visit: exchange students and travelling students.

4.1.8 Exchange students

4.1.8.1 The number of students exchanged under this agreement is tentatively limited to no more than one from each institution per academic year, subject to available space. Incremental increases in the number of students exchanged may be negotiated over the life of this agreement.

4.1.8.2 Students on exchange will not have to pay tuition, accommodation, or other required fees at the host institution. Students on exchange are responsible for payment of transportation to the host institution, passport and visa fees, board, books, and personal expenses. Medical insurance adequate for the country is mandatory and it is the student’s responsibility to obtain and to pay for it.

4.1.8.3 Exchange students will be nominated by the home institution and subject to acceptance by the host institution. Each exchange student will meet and satisfy the admission procedures and requirements of the department or institutes/schools/colleges to which he/she applies, as well as the prerequisites established for specific courses or programs.

4.1.8.4 Exchange students will be admitted in a non-degree status by the host institution for a period of one or two semesters and for a maximum of two academic years (subject to item 4.1.2 above).

4.1.8.5 Once a mutual exchange has been approved by both institutions, if one member of the exchange withdraws before the end of the designated period of exchange, the status of the other member of the exchange will not be affected. The principle of reciprocity, however, must be maintained over time.

4.1.8.6 Student exchanges are based on the principle of reciprocity within the same academic year.

4.1.9. Travelling Students

4.1.9.1 Students who attend a host institution in addition to those designated to be exchange students will be considered ‘travelling students.’ Students who attend a host institution for purposes other than completing one or more credit courses will be considered ‘travelling students.’& lt; /p>

4.1.9.2 Arrangements for travelling students will be negotiated on an ‘as needed’ basis taking into consideration the particular educational outcomes sought from a proposed trip.

4.1.9.3 Travelling students electing to take credit courses will be admitted in a non-degree status by the host institution for a period of one semester only.

4.1.9.4 Travelling students electing to attend or participate in conferences, institutes, meetings and performances rather than attend credit courses will not need to go through an admissions process.

4.1.9.5 Travelling students will be nominated by the home institution and subject to acceptance by the host institution.

4.1.9.6 Financial assistance from the host institution to a travelling student will need to be negotiated on an individual basis. In the absence of any additional arrangements, travelling students will have to pay tuition and other required fees at the host institution for any courses in which they enroll. Travelling students are also responsible for payment of transportation to the host institution, passport and visa fees, room and board, books, and personal expenses including the fees associated with any conferences, tutoring, travel, meetings, etc, in which they participate. Medical insurance adequate for the country is mandatory and it is the student’s responsibility to obtain and to pay for it. There is no provision in this agreement for the exchange of travelling students.

4.2. Articulated Transfers

NXC and BU commit themselves in this agreement to explore opportunities for articulating their programs to facilitate and encourage student transition from one institution to the other and, where appropriate, back again. The specifics of any program articulation will have to be negotiated by appropriate academic units at NXC and BU, but the following general guidelines will govern any arrangements.

4.2.1 Defining ‘Transfer’

4.2.1.1 Students wishing to take courses at a host institution for transfer back to their home institution to be applied as credit towards an academic qualification awarded by their home institution are exchange or visiting students and their arrangements do not require an articulation agreement.

4.2.1.2 Students wishing to discontinue their studies at one institution and resume them at another with the intention of transferring earned credit from the first institution to the second and graduating with an academic qualification awarded by the second institution are ‘transfer students.’

4.2.2 Transferring Credit

4.2.2.1 Credit may be transferred from one institution to another on an individual course-by-course basis. Brandon University maintains records of all courses at other educational institutions that it recognizes for transfer towards academic studies at BU.

4.2.2.2 Credit may be transferred from one institution to another as a block of courses or studies. Where it may be impractical to attempt to equate educational attainment from specific courses, it may be possible for each institution to recognize entire blocks of study (such as the first one or two years of university-level studies, an undergraduate diploma or certificate, or an entire degree) as equivalent to a period of study at the other institution. Such an arrangement would constitute an articulation of the programmes between BU and NXC.

5. Faculty and Staff

Both BU and NXC and their faculty and staff may benefit from the sharing of ideas and experiences across a range of activities from teaching and research in academic disciplines to the administration of institutions of higher education themselves.

5.1 Faculty Exchanges

5.1.1 Travel and living expenses for professors on exchanges are not compensated by the host institution.

5.1.2 Professors on exchanges must carry medical health insurance, which meets the requirements of the host institution and/or the host government.

5.1.3 The exchange of research and teaching faculty may take one of two forms: teaching exchanges or scholarly visits.

5.1.4 Teaching Exchanges

5.1.4.1 All teaching exchanges are based on the principle of reciprocity within the same academic year; each institution may nominate one of its professors to participate in an exchange for the purpose of teaching and research in the other institution on a reciprocal basis.

5.1.4.2 The participants are subject to approval by the host institution.

5.1.4.3 The period of exchange will normally be for one or two semesters, but will not exceed one academic year.

5.1.4.4 In general, professors on teaching exchanges will remain on regular salary and benefits with their respective institutions.

5.1.4.5 Teaching course loads and working hours and conditions will normally be in accordance with established rules and practices of the host institution, subject to prior negotiation and agreement between the host institution and the faculty member.

5.1.4.6 Remuneration for special projects is subject to discrete negotiation between the faculty member and the host institution.

5.1.4.7 The host institution will provide an institutional title and office space, and will give access to libraries and other needed facilities for professors on teaching exchanges.

5.1.5 Visiting Scholars

5.1.5.1. Visiting scholars from either institution may make, at the request or with the approval of the host institution, a visit to the other institution for the purpose of research, consulting and short-term teaching, subject to prior negotiation.

5.1.5.2. The host institution will provide institutional and library access; efforts will be made, subject to prior negotiation, to provide office space and access to needed facilities.

5.2 Administrative Exchanges

Recognizing that many facets of university operations are common to the educational enterprise itself, NXC and BU agree to offer each other information and necessary assistance in educational planning and achievements of educational research, and to discuss specific strategies in the development of applied higher education.

5.2.1 Exchanges of administrative knowledge, experience and materials will be negotiated on an individual basis as proposals arise.

5.2.2 Exchanges of administrative staff for experiential and training purposes will be negotiated on an individual basis as proposals arise, using the parameters for scholarly visits detailed in section 5.1.5 above for guidance.

6. Cultural and Artistic Works and Compositions

While all exchanges have a cultural component, this agreement between NXC and BU seeks to specifically facilitate and encourage exchanges of students and faculty involved in the creative arts along with pieces of art (liberally defined). Brandon University’s attention to Aboriginal Canadian art forms and its well established School of Music are just two focal points of a myriad of activities at BU that may complement the richness of fine arts, crafts, and design tradition present in China. The exchange of artists and their work will create many opportunities at each institution for growth and innovation. Cultural exchanges will, by their very nature, need to be negotiated on an individual basis as proposals arise, however, they will be governed by the following general guidelines.

6.1 All artwork exchanged between NXC and BU remains the property of the institution or the artist responsible for its creation and is exchanged on a temporary basis unless explicitly agreed otherwise.

6.2 The artist/s responsible for the creation of any exchanged artwork or performance will accompany their work whenever possible even though the art work or composition may be forwarded in advance or remain following an artist’s visit.

7. Duration, Conditions and Modifications of the Agreement

7.1 This agreement shall become effective upon the signing of the designated officials of both institutions.

7.2 This agreement will be valid for five years from the date of signature; however, three years shall be recognized as the accounting period, that is, beginning with the signing of the agreement, at the end of each three year period the number of students and faculty/staff exchanged should be in balance, although it may not be in any one year. Every effort will be made, however, to maintain the balance on a yearly basis.

7.3 The absence of exchanges during any one academic year is possible and does not nullify this agreement.

7.4 In accordance with the Equal Opportunity Policies of the institutions named above, there will be no discrimination against any person, for any reason, who qualifies as a participant in the programs supported by this document.

7.5 Either institution may terminate this agreement with a notice of twelve months, this period being necessary to ensure that exchanges then planned or in progress are completed satisfactorily.

7.6 Modifications may be proposed at any time, effective from the date of written notification signed by both institutions.

7.7 At the end of the penultimate year of the five-year lifespan of this agreement, both institutions will conduct an evaluation of the programs. Any amendments to be made, other than outright cancellation, would be achieved by mutual consent and an exchange of correspondence for the purpose of renewal of the agreement for a further five-year period.

Agreement signed January 5, 2003