The inaugural seminar presented by the Center on Chinese Education was held February 1st and featured Halsey Beemer, Lead General Educator at the World Bank. Beemer spoke on "Education and Development in Western Region, China," addressing how China attempts to reduce poverty and geographic disparity through educational investment.

In November, Dr. D. Bruce Johnstone, Professor of Higher and Comparative Education at SUNY Buffalo, was the featured speaker at the luncheon sponsored by the Center on Chinese Education. Johnstone, former Chancellor of the SUNY system, addressed the issue of "Responses to Worldwide Austerity in Higher Education."

The Center on Chinese Education was established at Teachers College in July 2000, with funding from the Henry Luce Foundation, Lingnan Foundation, the Ford Foundation and Crosston Finance Ltd. The mission of the Center is to conduct policy research, training and dissemination on education in China, and to promote educational exchanges between the United States and China. A complete listing of programs available through the center, such as scholarships, teaching opportunities in China, and other projects and developments, can be found on the Center's Web site: www.tc.columbia.edu/centers/coce.

Published Tuesday, Aug. 27, 2002