At 8:00 p.m. on April 19 (Beijing Time), Chengdu Sport University (CDSU) and University of Southern Indiana (USI) held a virtual session to negotiate the cooperation in education of undergraduate students majoring in sports economics and management. The attendees of USI included Dr. Ronald Rochon, President of USI, Dr. Mohammed Khayum, Chief Academic Officer, Dr. Emilija Zlatkovska, Executive Director for International Programs of the Center for International Programs, Dr. Zane Mitchell, Dean of the Pott College of Science, Engineering, and Education, and Dr. Renee Frimming, Chair of the Kinesiology and Sports Department. The attendees of CDSU included Professor Pan Xiaofei, Deputy Secretary of CPC Committee and President of CDSU, Professor Li Lin, Director of the Academic Affairs Office, Professor Guo Xinyan, Dean of the School of Economics and Management, Professor Qing Ping, Deputy Dean of the School of Economics and Management, Professor Li Chengxi, Chief of the Legal Affairs Section of the Strategic Planning Office of the School of Economics and Management, who is also the head of the relevant programs, and relevant personnel of the International Office.

    On behalf of CDSU, Professor Pan Xiaofei extended a warm welcome to Dr. Ronald Rochon, President of USI, and expressed sincere appreciation to all counterparts of USI for their efforts and contributions in promoting the implementation of the program.

     Then both presidents and the heads of relevant majors introduced the basic information about their universities and the characteristics of their majors. President Pan Xiaofei fully acknowledged the overall strength, high academic reputation and international influence of USI, especially its sports management specialty certified by the Commission on Sports Management Accreditation (COSMA), which has laid a good foundation for the undergraduate cooperation in education of sports economics and management specialty. CDSU cherishes this cooperation opportunity very much. Dr. Ronald Rochon believed that the sports economics and management specialty of the School of Economics and Management of CDSU boasts a long history, a rich experience and good momentum. With the competitive majors of the two universities, he hoped that both sides can take solid steps to promote cooperation in education and other exchange programs for delivering more fruitful outcomes.

    Afterward, both sides discussed the establishment of the project management mechanism, enrollment publicity, and online and offline courses carried out by foreign teachers during the epidemic. President Pan Xiaofei also expressed his expectations for in-depth exchanges and cooperation between both sides in sports medicine and health, kinesiology, sports rehabilitation, physical education, sports training, competitive sports and other professional fields in the future. At the same time, both presidents promised that the two schools will sincerely fulfill their responsibilities according to the Cooperation in Education Program Agreement, comprehensively promote the follow-up work, ensure the implementation of the program, and strive to create a brand of cooperation in education.

      Finally, on behalf of CDSU, President Pan Xiaofei sincerely invited the president and counterparts of USI to attend the event to mark the 80th anniversary of CDSU and the online opening ceremony of CDSU in October.

      This is the first online session between the university-level leaders since the undergraduate cooperative education program of sports economics and management specialty of CDSU and USI has been officially approved by the Ministry of Education in 2021. Through the virtual session, two schools reached consensuses and the session achieved desired results.

    Founded in 1965, USI is a public four-year university funded by the state government, which is a top university in the Midwest, and its engineering major ranks 183rd in America (US News). The university offers more than sixty majors. Students can choose to enter the College of Liberal Arts, Romain College of Business, College of Nursing and Health Professions, and the Pott College of Science, Engineering, and Education. Among them, Romain College of Business has been accredited by the Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business International (AACSB International); The Bachelor of Science in Manufacturing Engineering (BSMFE) program has been accredited by the Engineering Accreditation Commission of ABET.

Department: International Office

Written by: Zhu Jing

Reviewed by: Li Zaihui