China Expertise

Originally Published:
January 7, 2006

Source:
Chartwell Publications

Dr. Susan Sclafani has devoted a great segment of her career to exploring and initiating education partnerships between the United States and the People's Republic of China. Her global knowledge and experience in the region has led to the development of many successful projects and ongoing relationships between the two nations.

Most recently Dr. Sclafani worked to develop an interactive, game-based, on-line E-Language Learning System in Mandarin and English with Vice Minister ZHANG Xinsheng, International Education and Culture, who is currently Deputy Minister of Education and Chairperson of the Chinese National Commission for UNESCO and Chairman of the Executive Board of UNESCO. The project included establishing technical work groups in each country which included outstanding university researchers, scholars, and foundation members. The United States team also included representatives of the Asia Society, the George Lucas Foundation, the Mott Foundation, and department staff. In China, the work group included the chair of the People's Paublishing Company, the head of the Chinese as a Foreign Language Department, Hanban, and ministry staff. Dr. Sclafani and Vice Minister ZHANG directed biannual meetings with the technical work groups in China and the United States. The Chinese version, CHENGO is now available on-line, while the English version is currently under development by the United States Department of Education.

Dr. Sclafani has also successfully established and managed an exchange program between Dalian, China Municipal Education Department and the Houston Independent School District. The project started with Dalian Middle School #24 and Lamar High School, Houston, Texas, though the program has since expanded to include high schools, middle schools and elementary schools.

Throughout her career, Dr. Sclafani has developed and helped nurture numerous relationships between education officials and departments in the United States and China. She arranged the signing of two Memoranda of Understanding between the People's Republic of China Ministry of Education and the United States Department of Education, the first in the department's history. The second was signed in Washington D.C. with Vice Minister ZHOU JI, the current Minister of Education.

Dr. Sclafani also maintains continued relationships with the Chinese Minister Council to Washington D.C., Madame LIU Chuansheng, the current Chairperson of Beijing Normal University, as well as with the Chinese Minister Counsel for Education and his assistant at the embassy in Washington D.C. Dr. Sclafani has worked closely with the former director of the International Education Division, ZHANG Xiuqin, who is currently the Secretary General of the China Scholarship Council, as well as the former deputy director of the International Education Division, TIAN Xiaogang, who is currently the Secretary General of the National Commission of the People's Republic of China for UNESCO. Dr. Sclafani most recently worked with ZHANG Tiedao, Vice President of the Beijing Academy of Educational Science on conferences in the United States and China.

Additionally, Dr. Sclafani has attended numerous international conferences, including the APEC Ministers Meeting with Minister CHAN and Vice Minister ZHANG Xinsheng, International Education and Culture in 1999.

Back to News