Over a hundred memorandums of understanding signed during the “Chinese Bridge for American Principals”

The 2016 “Chinese Bridge for American Principals” was held from November 10th to 18th, during which over 210 education officials and principals of mainstream primary and secondary schools from 30 states and Washington D. C. of the US were invited to visit China.

During their stay in China, the American delegates attended lectures on basic education in China, and visited Confucius Institute Headquarters (Hanban) and institutions of higher education in Beijing. Later on, they were divided into six groups to visit Tianjin, Chongqing, Shandong, Henan, Jiangsu and Fujian respectively, where they experienced traditional Chinese culture, visited local primary and secondary schools, observed classes and conducted in-depth exchanges with principals, teachers and students.

The American delegates visiting Confucius Institute Headquarters (Hanban)

A group of American delegates visiting schools in Chongqing

Sino-US Principal Workshop held in Henan

The provinces and municipalities receiving these delegates also held Sino-US principal forums or workshops, at which Chinese and American principals stated their views freely on such themes as “innovation, exchange, cooperation and win-win”.

A group of American delegates visiting schools in Jiangsu

A group of American delegates visiting schools in Shandong

This China tour for American principals focused on actual effects and yielded fruitful results. An estimated 140 memorandums of understanding were signed between Chinese and American schools concerning interschool cooperation, teacher and student exchanges and so on.

At the summary conference, Past Chair of the College Board Maghan Keita extended his appreciation to Confucius Institute Headquarters (Hanban) and stated that the “Chinese Bridge for American Principals” laid a solid foundation for the further exchange and cooperation between Chinese and American schools and wished schools having signed memorandums of understanding to deepen cooperation by virtue of the bridge established by this visit.

A group of American delegates visiting schools in Tianjin

A group of American delegates visiting schools in Xiamen

Eva Mitchell, Director of Boston public schools; David Lussier, Superintendent of Wellesley Public Schools; and Matthew Lucey, Principal of Field School, on behalf of the delegates visiting Henan, spoke highly of the basic education in Henan and expressed their willingness to further expand exchange and cooperation, such as introducing more traditional Chinese culture to US and inviting Chinese teachers to offer guidance to mathematics teaching at American schools. Peele Lisa Ireland, Director of Cultural Initiatives at Onslow County Schools, noted that schools in Tianjin were hospitable and people there were friendly, which made her feel at home. Chase Russell Kevin, Superintendent of Education Service District 105 in Washington, who visited Fujian, expressed his wishes that American students could, like students in Xiamen, have a good command of a foreign language (Chinese).

The signing ceremony in Henan

The signing ceremony in Chongqing

Since 2006, Confucius Institute Headquarters (Hanban) has collaborated with the College Board to host the “Chinese Bridge for American Principals”, inviting several hundred American principals and education officials to visit China every year. To date, this program has invited over 5,000 principals to China, where they have experienced China’s long-standing history and culture and rapid social development, and established relationships and cooperation with Chinese schools.