Representatives from the Changzhou Institute of Technology (CIT) visited on Oct. 15 to formally acknowledge the new partnership between the two universities.

“We are pleased to play host to the representatives from the Changzhou Institute,” Dr Randy Glean, director of international services, said in a press release. “This visit will allow us to not only share our campus environment but also to share our international goals.”

The Changzhou Institute, located in Southern China, is a technical university with four campuses and 15 schools of study with approximately 10,000 students. In the fall of 2012, the university signed an agreement allowing engineering students to attend two years of study at CIT in China and two years here at Midwestern.

According to Keith Lamb, vice president of student affairs and enrollment management, the biggest reason for the partnership is to increase the university’s exposure to foreign students. Each year, graduating seniors are taken directly into a professional world that involves business between various countries. By setting up partnerships like the one with the Changzhou Institute, students are able to interact and better understand the different cultures they will eventually collaborate with.

Accompanied by a translator, both Midwestern and CIT representatives exchanged thoughts on the newly-formed alliance in terms of future success. As of now, one student from the Changzhou Institute is attending MSU, providing proof that a promising future is within reach for students from both schools who exchange universities.

“This partnership is a very good idea because both schools have great technical programs,” Will Pan, a graduate student in psychology and translator for the meeting, said. “Tons of Chinese students are wanting to study in America and this is the perfect way for that to happen.”