Pace, CI hold cultural exchange day

Whether looking to add "Nanjing Normal University Professor" to a resume, curious about studying in China or simply a fan of Chinese culture, attendees will have the opportunity to explore all of that and more when the Confucius Institute (CI) at Pace University celebrates its biggest-ever cultural event.

On Tuesday, Pace CI and its partner institution, China's Nanjing Normal University, will host a Chinese Cultural Exchange Day, including a job and study abroad fair, academic symposium and a music and dance performance.

The exchange is part of a weeklong visit by a large delegation from Nanjing Normal to a number of schools of higher education on the East Coast, including Pace CI. Activities will take place from 11am to 6pm at the downtown campus at 1 Pace Plaza in the Student Union on 3 Spruce Street in New York.

The event is free and open to the public. An RSVP is recommended to either ci@pace.edu or 212-346-1880. In addition to representatives from Pace and Nanjing Normal, also expected to attend are Education Counselor Cen Jianjun and Consul Chang Quansheng from the Consulate General of the People's Republic of China.

"We hope to attract a large and diverse audience, as there is something for everyone," Lindsay Bennett, program manager for the Pace CI, wrote in reply to a China Daily e-mail inquiry. "For those interested in the job and study abroad fairs, we encourage them to arrive early."

The job and study abroad fair will focus on employment, research, and study abroad opportunities at Nanjing Normal and take place from 11am to 3pm.

Bennett said the job fair is aimed at recruiting top-level talent and qualified individuals who would be interested in joining the Nanjing Normal faculty. She said the Chinese university's recruiting interests include multiple areas of science, engineering, humanities related to both Chinese and foreign languages and literature, law, education, economics, history and psychology.

The study abroad portion will present opportunities for those interested in studying at Nanjing Normal, whether they are undergraduate and graduate students, recent graduates, or high school students considering a gap year, Bennett said

The academic symposium will begin at 2pm and feature Nanjing Normal and Pace faculty with expertise on China. The two sides will engage in a multi-cultural dialogue surrounding topics including literature, economics and history.

To wrap up the day, students will put on a variety of performances involving Uyghur folk music, Tajik folk dances, traditional Chinese instrumental music and Western classical music 4:30 to 6pm.

On Tuesday morning, leaders from both universities, including Nanjing Normal's Vice-President Miu Jiandong and Director of the Foreign Affairs Division, Gao Liping, and Pace's Provost Uday Sukhatme and Dean of Dyson College of Arts and Sciences Nira Herrmann, will meet.

Bennett said the two universities aim to further solidify their academic cooperation and work on plans for future academic exchanges.