Zhejiang – New Jersey STEM Education Training Program was successfully carried out in Kean University

On October 21-31, 2019, a delegation of 19 school principals from Zhejiang Province, China, conducted the 11-day Zhejiang-New Jersey STEM education training in Union County, New Jersey, USA. 21 members of Kean University’s Chinese Students and Scholars Association and exchange students from Wenzhou-Kean University (WKU) actively participated in the volunteer service during the training.

On the 21st, Kean University held a welcome ceremony for the opening of the training course. President Dr. Farahi made a cordial speech and expressed a warm welcome to the delegation of Zhejiang Province. Provost Jeff Toney delivered a keynote speech, and Keith Bostian, Dean of the New Jersey Center for Science, Technology and Mathematics, delivered a speech. Zhu Haina, Special Adviser and Director of Strategic Planning Office of Kean University and Deputy Director of School Office of WKU, introduced the history of the establishment of the school and the situation of enrollment, and sincerely invited the present school principals to visit WKU on behalf of WKU’s leaders.

New Jersey is a sister state of Zhejiang Province, while Wenzhou and Union County of New Jersey are sister cities. As a Sino-US friendship province and state cooperation project, WKU has been actively engaged in bridging the gap, providing a platform for strengthening cultural exchanges between Zhejiang and New Jersey, continuously expanding the use of high-quality teaching resources in international universities, and playing the advantages of the province and state in the field of STEM education. In June 2018, the Provincial Department of Education signed a memorandum of understanding on STEM education cooperation with Kean University to jointly promote STEM education cooperation and exchange between the two sides. On June 1, 2019, the Zhejiang – New Jersey STEM innovation education Forum was held at WKU, and 11 Zhejiang – New Jersey sister schools signed contracts.

In this STEM education training, the delegation of Zhejiang Province not only conducted research and studied at Kean University, but also visited Dellan High School, Chatham Middle School and other schools to learn about STEM education related topics, including the overview of American education system and school management, international education projects, design and technology, etc., to fully exchange the STEM education situation of the province and state, learn from each other, promote cooperation between China and the United States in the field of STEM education, and promote Sino-US non-governmental exchanges.

In the future, WKU will continue to play the role of a platform for Sino-US friendship between province and state, strive to promote the development of steam education in Zhejiang Province, and promote educational reform and innovation.

Translator Chen Yue