Wenzhou-Kean University Showcases Innovative Practices in Student Affairs at Prestigious International Conference
In June 2025, Dr. Haina Zhu, Dean of Students at Wenzhou-Kean University, attended the "Collaborate 2025" international conference co-hosted by NASPA, EUCA, and others. Gathering experts globally, the event explored student affairs trends, cross-cultural strategies, and education governance.
Dr. Zhu's presentation, Developing a Cross-Cultural Student Affairs System—Integrating Eastern and Western Practices, detailed WKU's approach. She outlined its student affairs framework, covering departments like counseling, financial aid, and one-stop services, highlighting cross-departmental collaboration and holistic development.
Four key innovations define WKU's student affairs model: a dual-track psychological support system separating counseling from education; a cross-functional BIT modeled on US practices, with regular meetings and risk interventions; an intelligent bilingual service platform for scholarships and transcripts; and a "Second Classroom" integrating labor and cultural learning, exemplified by the “Kean Farm” initiative that links service hours to awards.
During the discussion, Dr. Zhu led exchanges on building cross-cultural systems. Her emphasis on educators as "gatekeepers" resonated widely. Highly praised, her presentation demonstrated WKU’s leadership in student affairs internationalization and global education influence. Invited to the next conference, she will further share WKU’s innovative experience. NASPA, founded in 1919, remains a global authority in student affairs, representing 2,100 institutions across over 25 countries and more than 15,000 members.
