Dean Susan M. Collins has just returned from China, where she attended a May 28 dean’s forum for schools of public policy and public affairs. The forum was generously hosted by Shanghai Jiao Tong University.
Deans and academic leaders at the forum hailed from 17 schools of public policy and public affairs, located at the following universities in China and around the world:
Dean Susan M. Collins (front row, 5th from left) seated beside Professor Zhang Jie, president of Shanghai Jiao Tong University- Australian National University,
- Columbia University,
- King’s College London,
- Nanjing University,
- National University of Singapore,
- Ohio State University,
- Peking University,
- Renmin University,
- Shanghai Jiao Tong University,
- Sun Yat-Sen University,
- Tsinghua University,
- University of Maryland,
- University of Michigan,
- University of Pennsylvania,
- University of Southern California,
- Wuhan University, and
- Zhejiang University.
Roundtable discussions, which were moderated by Zhong Yang, dean of Shanghai Jiao Tong’s School of International and Public Affairs, focused on disciplinary development (curricular innovations, training public servants for the 21st century) and the social responsibility of schools of public policy and public affairs (promoting societal development, solving urban problems, and improving global governance).
"This was an excellent opportunity to learn about, and develop relationships with, leaders of top policy schools in China and other nations," says Collins, Joan and Sanford Weill Dean of Public Policy at the Ford School. "We were able to discuss curricular innovations and shared challenges as we train students for public sector service and leadership."